Migration of a contraceptive subcutaneous device into the pulmonary artery. Report of a case

Case Rep Womens Health. 2015 Sep 24:8:6-8. doi: 10.1016/j.crwh.2015.09.002. eCollection 2015 Oct.

Abstract

The case is about an 18 year-old woman who benefited of a radiopaque contraceptive implant (Nexplanon) inserted in the left arm. When she wanted to remove it, it couldn't be found by palpation, US, CT and MRI. A CXR and a thoracic CT scan were necessary to locate the implant, and the implant was removed by endovascular procedures.Significant migration of a contraceptive implant is uncommon, and only one case of migration far from the insertion limb has been reported. Using radiopaque contraceptive implants like Nexplanon could locate them easier if a migration occurs.

•We couldn't locate a radiopaque contraceptive implant in the insertion limb.•We located it in a distal pulmonary artery by performing chest radiography and CT scan.•We removed it by endovascular procedure with a loop snare•We have to perform chest radiography in case of non-visible implant in the arm.

Keywords: Foreign body; Migration of contraceptive implant.

Publication types

  • Case Reports