Dislodged Guidewire in the Descending Aorta and Iliofemoral Artery during Transfemoral Sheath Placement: Percutaneous Retrieval via Contralateral Femoral Artery—An Innovative Approach

A case in which a 0.038-inch guidewire was inadvertently pushed into the common femoral-iliac and descending aorta, during sheath-guidewire placement, through the common femoral artery during cerebral angiogram is described here, and a successful retrieval system using a coronary guidewire is also described. A Boston Scientific MPXF 6Fr guiding catheter (Boston Scientific, Boston, Massachusetts, United States) shortened to 70 cm was advanced beyond the floppy tip of the guidewire through the left common femoral artery. A Cordis (Miami, Florida, United States) supersoft coronary guidewire of 0.014-inch diameter, bent on itself through the middle so as to have an available 90 cm, with the closed advancing tip splayed and bent at an angulation of 90 degrees to form a gooseneck, was advanced through the lumen of guiding catheter to seize the floppy tip of the guidewire acting like a snare and captivating it into the guiding catheter; and thereafter, the whole system was withdrawn en bloc.