Transcutaneous removal of an intravenous catheter fragment using a spider FX™ Embolic Protection device

Long-term use of intravenous catheters can lead to catheter fracture and embolization of fragments. Transcutaneous retrieval of these catheter fragments can be challenging because of their fragility. We report an 8-year-old boy with Hemophilia disease who underwent removal of intravenous Port catheter after 7 years of use, resulting in embolization of fractured catheter fragments into the distal pulmonary arteries. The snare technique to pull the snared fragment into a sheath was unsuccessful, and it leads to further breakdown due to its fragility. An alternative technique using a combination of a snare kit and a Spider FX™ Embolic Protection Device was employed. This technique allowed the fragments to be secured proximally with the basket device and distally with the snare. The unit was then pulled through a sheath and removed from the body. To our knowledge, Spider FX™ Device has not been used in this way before.