Snaring to resolve catheter kinking during percutaneous coronary intervention

Abstract

We describe two cases of catheter kinking during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In the first patient, a snare was inserted through contralateral access and captured the distal end of the guide catheter. After pulling the kinked guide catheter with the snare, guidewire advancement and ballooning across the guide catheter resulted in resolution of the kink and successful removal. In the second patient, a snare advanced from the contralateral femoral artery captured the tip of the kinked diagnostic catheter that was pulled through the left femoral sheath, followed by guidewire externalization and removal of the kinked catheter.