Novel Bail-Out Strategy for Pigtail Catheter Entrapment During TAVI: A Case Report

Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. 2025 Jan;105(1):258-260. doi: 10.1002/ccd.31343. Epub 2024 Dec 4.

Abstract

Device entrapment during Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) is a rare but significant complication, particularly in cases involving calcified aortic anatomy. This case report presents a novel bailout strategy to address pigtail catheter entrapment during a TAVI procedure. An 86-year-old female undergoing TAVI with an Acurate neo2 prosthesis experienced pigtail catheter entrapment between the valve frame and calcified non-coronary cusp during valve deployment. Initial attempts to retrieve the catheter failed, leading to concerns about valve displacement and potential complications. The innovative solution involved inflating a post-dilation balloon within the valve to stabilize the prosthesis while simultaneously retrieving the trapped pigtail catheter. This technique ensured safe extraction without compromising valve integrity or necessitating surgical intervention. The report emphasizes the importance of preemptive measures, including confirming the catheter's free movement and retracting it before final valve release, to prevent similar complications.

Keywords: TAVI; entrapment; trapped catheter; trapped pigtail catheter.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis* / diagnostic imaging
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis* / physiopathology
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis* / surgery
  • Aortic Valve* / diagnostic imaging
  • Aortic Valve* / pathology
  • Aortic Valve* / physiopathology
  • Aortic Valve* / surgery
  • Balloon Valvuloplasty
  • Calcinosis
  • Cardiac Catheterization / adverse effects
  • Cardiac Catheterization / instrumentation
  • Cardiac Catheters*
  • Device Removal
  • Female
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis*
  • Humans
  • Prosthesis Design*
  • Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement* / adverse effects
  • Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement* / instrumentation
  • Treatment Outcome

Supplementary concepts

  • Aortic Valve, Calcification of