Retrieval of severed balloon shaft by trapper balloon method

With the increasing use of complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), particularly via the transradial approach, management of complications such as broken wires and dislodged stents pose a problem. While there have been several methods to address these complications via the transfemoral approach, the management of these via the transradial approach is less well described. While the incidence of these events is low, failure to manage such complications appropriately can lead to adverse sequela. Here we describe a case of a patient who came for elective complex PCI of the left main, left anterior descending and left circumflex artery. We describe the use of a transradial trapper balloon method to retrieve a broken balloon shaft that occurred during this PCI procedure.