Entrapped coronary angioplasty guidewire and its retrieval from aorta and LAD

A rare but serious complication of coronary interventions is entrapment of coronary angioplasty guidewire. A failed percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) attempt to the left anterior descending (LAD) was complicated by entrapment of the guidewire in the LAD and aorta. Under cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegic arrest, the whole length of entrapped guidewire was retrieved successfully from the LAD and aorta through aortotomy following revascularization of the LAD with the left internal mammary artery (LIMA).