Retrieval of an Undeflatable Balloon During Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Combination With Small Thoracotomy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

An undeflatable balloon is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Case summary

An 80-year-old man undergoing PCI developed an undeflatable balloon lodged in the proximal left anterior descending artery. Catheter-based retrieval attempts were unsuccessful, necessitating surgical intervention. The balloon was successfully deflated via a small thoracotomy through direct puncture with a 25-gauge needle.

Discussion

This case demonstrates the successful surgical retrieval of an undeflatable balloon using a minimally invasive off-pump approach. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of successful retrieval of an undeflatable coronary balloon by direct needle puncture through a small thoracotomy

SUBMITTER: Okabe K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12539485 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature