Nonoperative Removal of Entrapped Thoracic Intracardiac Monitoring Catheters: A New Bedside Technique

Flexible guidewires introduced into transthoracic intracardiac monitoring catheters can release entrapped areas of acute angulation caused by fascial closure sutures. This technique has been successfully applied to adult and pediatric patients with various sized guidewires and catheters, thus obviating the need for surgical removal of the entrapped monitoring catheters. Because entrapment with subsequent fracture of these monitoring catheters represents the most common complication of their use, lessening of this risk supports their continued widespread implementation.