Duo-decapolar catheter entrapment in the Chiari network: successful extraction with the snare catheter

Abstract

Background The Chiari network (CN) is the net-like embryonic remnants of the right valve of the sinus venosus. Catheter entrapment by CN is a not uncommon complication during catheter manipulation inside the right atrium (RA).

Case presentation A 49-year-old man with atrial fibrillation was admitted for cryoablation. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed a prominent CN in the RA. Through the sheath placed in the right femoral vein, a diagnostic electrophysiologic duo-decapolar (DD) catheter (Livewire, St Jude Medical, St Paul, MN) was advanced. The catheter tip was knotted after multiple rotations in the RA to properly locate the DD catheter at the RA wall and coronary sinus (CS). Initial attempts to disentangle the folded catheter tip by traction and rotation maneuvers were unsuccessful. We inserted the large-bore sheath (Sentrant; Medtronic, 20 Fr) into the patients left femoral vein and then, captured the folded catheter tip with the 20-mm circular snare catheter (Snare Kit, Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN). Then, we cut the proximal portion of the DD catheter externally and removed it retrogradely through the Flexcath sheath. We found that the catheter tip was entrapped by the fibrous tissue of the CN. After a successful retrieval, cryoablation was conducted as planned. Follow-up echocardiography did not reveal any peri-procedural complications.

Conclusions The electrophysiological procedure that exists at the RA entails a potential risk of catheter entrapment manipulating the catheter at the RA. If catheter entrapment occurs during the procedure, the entrapped catheter may be removed via a large-bore sheath using a snare catheter.