Aim: Several techniques exist to retrieve catheter and guide wire fragments. In this report we summarize our cost-saving method.
Materials and methods: A 7-8F guiding catheter and a self-made loop consisting of a 260 cm/0.035 in. Terumowire was used.
Results: 45 of 48 fragments were retrieved completely using this method. For the three remaining fragments (all pacemaker electrodes), retrieval was attempted with a "Goose-Neck" loop, two of them failed. The procedure was well tolerated, there were no severe complications.
Conclusion: Usually venous foreign bodies can be retrieved completely by this cost-saving method, the use of expensive industrial loops or baskets can be avoided.