Chronic Complication of Balloon Catheter Shaft Retained in the Coronary Artery: A Case of Aortic Aneurysm and Surgical Removal After One Year During Aortic Valve Replacement

Percutaneous transcatheter angiography can cause various undesirable complications due to factors related to equipment, the operator, or the patient. In this case, we present a patient who had undergone coronary artery bypass grafting eight years earlier and in whom a balloon catheter shaft remained lodged in the coronary artery during stent placement in the right coronary artery one year prior. One year later, during valve surgery for severe aortic stenosis, the balloon catheter shaft was removed from the coronary artery. Interestingly, the retained balloon catheter shaft did not cause ischemic problems in the coronary artery for one year; however, it did cause an aneurysm in the ascending aorta. This case is presented to highlight surgical findings and the complications that may occur during the chronic course.

Keywords: Aortic valve replacement, balloon catheter shaft, coronary angiography complication, coronary artery bypass grafting, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty