Abstract
A 4-month-old preterm, critically ill infant weighing 3.8 kg was admitted to our pediatric
intensive care unit with congestive cardiac failure due to a large ventricular septal
defect and its sequelae. During an attempt to insert a central line into the right
subclavian vein at bedside, the guidewire inadvertently entered the subclavian artery
and embolized distally. After multiple failed retrieval attempts, including surgical
femoral cut-down to retrieve the wire, it was removed finally by fluoroscopic-guided
percutaneous catheterization with the help of a cardiac bioptome and a gooseneck snare
utilizing a novel maneuver.
Keywords
guidewire - pediatric - retrieval
