Surgical removal of a ruptured, detached angioplasty balloon after popliteal stenting.

ABSTRACT

Balloon catheter entrapment after stent implantation is a potential interventional complication. However, angioplasty balloon disconnection from the catheter shaft and in-stent entrapment is a very uncommon event that could have serious thrombotic or embolic consequences. The management of this event may be interventional or surgical, depending on the patient's status and the position of the balloon inside the vessel. We describe a case of acute lower limb ischemia after popliteal self-expandable stenting, due to loss of the balloon along with a portion of its shaft. Surgical retrieval was accomplished without any further complications.