[Extraction of embolised catheter fragments using percutaneous technique: report of 3 cases].

Three cases are presented in which a basket catheter was used to retrieve broken central venous catheters successfully from the right side of the heart. Case 1: A 71-year-old female, in whom an IVH catheter was accidentally cut, and a fragment of which migrated into the pulmonary artery, was presented. Case 2: A 63-year-old male, fell into a restless state and pulled out the IVH catheter by himself, leaving a broken piece of catheter. Then, the catheter tip wandered into the right atrium. Case 3: In a 64-year-old male, it was found that the infusion port was detached from the catheter line for some unknown cause, and a chest X-ray film revealed migration of the catheter tip into the right atrium. We succeeded in removing the fragmented catheters by using basket catheters. They were inserted into the right heart transvenously, through a Fr. 8 sheath introducer (98cm long) under fluoroscopic control. We discussed the method and problems involved in removing intracardiac foreign bodies.