Successful nonsurgical removal of a knotted and entrapped pulmonary artery catheter

Length of insertion for pulmonary artery catheters to locate different cardiac chambers in patients undergoing cardiac surgery

“…Knotting of the PA catheter has been reported 6 and although there are methods to successfully treat it, we believe, it can be avoided if the guidelines related to length of insertion are followed. Prevention is the best treatment.…”

Clinical approach to the knotting diagnostic quadripolar catheter during zero‐fluoro electrophysiological study

“…The percutaneous (nonsurgical) approach is preferable while the surgical approach is reserved for large or multiple loop knots. Using the nonsurgical approach, one can attempt direct removal of the knotted catheter (cut down technique or upsizing to bigger introducer sheath) or use specific tools (retrieval basket, loop snares or steerable catheter) to unravel the knot before removal …”

Knotting of a pulmonary artery catheter in the superior vena cava: surgical removal and a word of caution

“…This problem is usually overcome by withdrawing the catheter until it comes into contact with the introducer, allowing its removal by a small skin incision. 7 Alternative approaches use a retrieval basket, 8 a loop snare formed by a double-over guidewire or loop snares, 9 endomyocardial biopsy forceps, 10 and even an inflated angioplasty balloon to expand the diameter of the knot.…”