Retrograde guidewire fracture complicated with pericardial tamponade in chronic total occlusive coronary lesion

Abstract

Along with various coronary devices progress, there is a now growing trend to percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion (CTO). However, the risk of guidewire fracture rate might be increased in complex lesion such as tortuous, calcific lesion or retrograde route. We report a case of successful surgical removal of fractured and entrapped guidewire in a septal channel during retrograde CTO intervention in a patient complicated with pericardial tamponade by delayed penetration of broken guidewire into pericardium.