[Percutaneous removal of a guide wire from the right ventricle and pulmonary artery (author's transl)].

Successful removal of an opaque guide-wire from the right ventricle and left pulmonary artery is reported. The wire was extracted into the right external iliac and common femoral vein and then removed by a venotomy. Percutaneous removal of embolised foreign bodies should be carried out as soon as possible. An attempt at percutaneous removal is to be preferred to a thoracotomy because of the considerably reduced risk.