Fig. 2

Fluoroscopic images during the retrieval of a central venous catheter fragment with inaccessible ends in a 61-year-old female patient with colon cancer. The catheter was implanted 16 years ago to treat breast cancer and its fragment migrated to the right atrium for at least 3.5 years. a The lower end of the catheter fragment is located in the left hepatic vein (arrow). The pigtail catheter (arrowhead) is advanced through the snare loop and hooked to the catheter fragment. b The lower end of the catheter fragment is disengaged (arrow) by pulling the pigtail catheter (arrowhead). c The pigtail catheter is pulled further to drag the lower end of the catheter fragment inferiorly through the snare loop (arrow). d The snare loop tightens the catheter fragment immediately (arrow)