Spontaneous arterial catheter fracture and embolisation: Unpredicted complication.

Arterial cannulation is a common procedure in the care and management of critically ill patients. Blood pressure measurement, arterial blood sampling and cardiac output determinations are a few primary reasons for arterial cannulation. This invasive catheter placement also imposes certain risks and clinical management problems like bleeding, thrombosis and hematoma formation. Fracture and embolisation of arterial catheters placed in the femoral region is a rare and serious complication that may result in arterial occlusion and thrombosis. Percutaneous retrieval of the foreign body is frequently reported to be the technique of choice, leaving the surgical option to a small group. We report two consecutive cases of catheter fracture that was successfully retrieved by a combination of surgery and balloon tip retrieval device.