Removal of a Foreign Body From the Heart Under Transesophageal Echocardiographic Guidance

Transoesophageal echocardiography guided retrieval of shattered aortic cross‐clamp from the mediastinum

“…removal can be challenging but necessary due to movement of the heart, proximity to great vessels, and trauma to nearby cardiovascular structures due to potential migration [1][2][3]. Since most foreign bodies are opaque, the initial method of localisation is a chest radiograph [1].…”

“…Intra‐thoracic foreign body removal can be challenging but necessary due to movement of the heart, proximity to great vessels, and trauma to nearby cardiovascular structures due to potential migration [1–3]. Since most foreign bodies are opaque, the initial method of localisation is a chest radiograph [1]. However, this may be insufficient if the position of the foreign body is unusual, as it was for our patient [4].…”

“…sutures; needles; dislodged catheters; valves; retained guidewires) and non‐iatrogenic or traumatic (e.g. bullets or shrapnel) [1, 5]. This report highlights the significant role transoesophageal echocardiography can play in not only localising foreign bodies but also guiding their intra‐operative retrieval.…”