Percutaneous Treatment of Recurrent Stroke Caused by a Cardiac Foreign Body: A Case Report

Abstract

We present a case of recurrent ischemic stroke in a 68-year-old man with a linear foreign body in the right atrium and ventricle and a patent foramen ovale (PFO). The patient developed atrial fibrillation despite taking warfarin at a therapeutic dose and had a third acute stroke. We planned left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion via the PFO, followed by PFO closure and foreign body removal. The percutaneous LAA occlusion and PFO closure were successful. However, it was difficult to remove the radiolucent foreign body. We inserted an Omni™ catheter via the right jugular vein to contact the foreign body in the right atrium directly, grasped its distal end with a snare, and successfully extracted it. The patient was followed-up in the outpatient clinic and had no recurrent stroke.