Intravascular foreign bodies: percutaneous retrieval.

Percutaneous retrieval of an intravascular foreign body was performed in 20 patients. There were 14 through-the-needle intravenous catheter fragments. In four patients the embolized foreign body was a broken diagnostic catheter. One patient had a ventriculovenous broken catheter and another patient had a bullet in the pulmonary circulation. Eight foreign bodies were located in the superior vena cava, six in the pulmonary artery, two in the right side of the heart, one in the subclavian vein, one in the thoracic aorta, and two in the aortoiliac segment. Percutaneous retrieval was successful in 95% of the attempts. In one case the procedure was performed to dislodge the foreign body into a better position for surgical retrieval.