[Percutaneous retrieval of intravascular foreign bodies].
PURPOSE: To report our experience on percutaneous vascular foreign body retrieval and to analyse current techniques employed. METHODS: From 1985 to 1991, 15 (0.18%) of 7,963 procedures performed in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory-Hospital São Paulo were intravascular foreign body retrieval: 9 (60%) intracath, 4 (26.8%) diagnostic catheters, one Swan Ganz catheter entrapped at superior cava vein and one fragment of angioplasty guide-wire in the circumflex branch of the left coronary artery. The snare technique was used in 11 cases, a endomyocardial bioptome device in 1 case and modified snare technique for the intracoronary wire fragment retrieval was used in 1 case. In two cases of embolized fragment in peripheral arteries, no attempt was done for retrieval. RESULTS: All (100%) of the 13 attempted procedures were successful. The two foreign bodies not removed had an uneventful follow-up. CONCLUSION: The snare technique for percutaneous retrieval of intravascular foreign bodies is safe and has excellent results. The management peripheral fragments is not well defined yet.