A French survey of contraceptive implant migration to the pulmonary artery

Abstract Objective(s) To quantify implant migration to the pulmonary artery in France since 2012 and to describe the diagnoses and treatments. Study design We surveyed 780 physicians of the French national implant-referral network, the French Society of Chest and Cardiovascular Surgery, and the French Radiology Society about diagnosis of implant migration to the pulmonary artery vasculature. We evaluated total implant insertions in France using data from the Medic'AM database. Results We identified 12 cases from 2012 to 2017. Ten of the cases were asymptomatic. Five devices were removed via interventional radiology, five surgically, and two were left in place. The number of insertions in France during the same years was approximately 1,200,000. Conclusion(s) Pulmonary artery migration following contraceptive implant insertion is rare with a migration incidence of 1 in 100,000. Most cases were diagnosed incidentally.