The long journey of a retained guidewire, from vein to aorta leading to cardiac tamponade: a case report

Clicks: 3
ID: 316526
2026
Free PDF
Article Quality & Performance Metrics
Overall Quality
Not rated
Combines reader engagement with the AI quality analysis. This article has not been analysed, so there is no overall score — reader engagement is measured and shown alongside.
AI Quality Assessment
Not analyzed
Readership in this journal
Steady

Ranked #218 of 261 articles by views in European Heart Journal - Case Reports

Most read Least read

Bar heights use a square-root scale. Only the 120 most-read articles are drawn; the journal has 261 in total.

Mint this article as an NFT
Not yet minted

Create a permanent, verifiable on-chain record of this article on the Scimatic Network. The NFT is held in your Journament account, and you can withdraw it to your own wallet at any time.

5 SUSD one-off · no wallet required
Sign in to mint
Abstract
Abstract Background Complete loss of a guidewire during central venous catheterization is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication and is considered a preventable “never event.” Retained guidewires mostly recognized during or shortly after the procedure, some may be stay in vascular system for a long time without detection and are associated with wide range of complications including vascular and cardiac chamber perforation. The decision to remove the guidewire through surgical or percutaneous technique should follow an individualized approach based on its location, associated complications, and the patient's clinical condition. Case Summary A 61-year-old male presented with sharp chest and epigastric pain, initially raising suspicion of acute coronary syndrome. Chest X-ray and initial echocardiogram were unremarkable. Electrocardiogram findings and serial troponin measurements were inconclusive. During follow-up, the patient developed fever, elevated acute phase reactants, and abdominal tenderness. Given the atypical clinical presentation, emergent coronary angiography was deferred. Abdominal ultrasound showed no acute intra-abdominal pathology. Due to persistent fever and worsening abdominal symptoms, a computed tomography scan was obtained revealing a linear radiopaque object extending from the right femoral vein, perforating right atrium and ascending aorta with associated hemorrhagic pericardial effusion. Emergent surgery was performed, and guidewire was successfully removed. Retrospective imaging showed its unnoticed presence for almost nine years. Discussion Although guidewire retention is well-documented, delayed diagnosis with major vascular injury is exceedingly rare. Existing literature highlights inadequate supervision and procedural distractions as leading contributors to guidewire retention. This case underscores the long-term risk and severe consequences of retained guidewire.
Reference Key
openalex_W7163986610 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Hazal Ünlügenç, Bekir Yıldız Serhat, Emre Demir, Osman Nuri Tuncer, Oğuz Yavuzgil
Journal European Heart Journal - Case Reports
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/ehjcr/ytag422
URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjcr/ytag422
Keywords Keywords not found

Citations

No citations found. To add a citation, contact the admin at info@scimatic.org

Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment on this article.