Guidewire Obstruction of Centrifugal Pump, in Patient on Extracorporeal Circulatory Support.

This case report tells the story of a 36-year-old overweight male with suspected myocarditis, who goes into cardiac arrest, and is subsequently transported to a heart center for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Mechanical support was established and running until distal limb perfusion was attempted. It is suspected that an aspired guidewire of a central venous catheter placed with the Seldinger technique was aspired and eventually obstructed the impeller of the centrifugal pump.