Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41094297›Full record

ArticleCVIR endovascular2025

Complex port removal: balloon-assisted retrieval of retained intravascular catheters - a technical note.

Nicholas L Thomas, Coplen D Johnson, Christopher Stevens, Joseph Eskew, Chiranjiv Virk, Chaitanya Ahuja, Paul E Perkowski, Heba Fouad

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Article in CVIR endovascular, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Nicholas L ThomasDepartment of Interventional Radiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA. nlt001@lsuhs.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0009-5665-8489
Coplen D JohnsonDepartment of Interventional Radiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA.
Christopher StevensDepartment of Interventional Radiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA.
Joseph EskewDepartment of Interventional Radiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA.
Chiranjiv VirkDepartment of Vascular Surgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA.
Chaitanya AhujaDepartment of Interventional Radiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA.
Paul E PerkowskiDepartment of Vascular Surgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA.
Heba FouadDepartment of Interventional Radiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeBalloon dilatation has remained relatively underutilized despite its emerging potential for hemodialysis catheter removal. This case series revisits balloon-assisted retrieval to showcase its effectiveness in retrieving long-term port-a-caths complicated by fibrotic encapsulation, calcification, and stenosis. MATERIALS &

methodsEndoluminal balloon-assisted retrieval was utilized in 12 cases with retained port-a-cath catheters after gentle traction failed to remove the indwelling 8 French catheter due to complex intravascular fibrotic adhesions and calcifications. Under fluoroscopic guidance, a non-compliant angio-balloon was advanced over a guidewire through the externally accessible central venous catheter. Once the balloon reached the distal segment of the tubing, it was sequentially inflated in a retrograde manner within the catheter's lumen to disrupt the surrounding adhesions.

resultsBalloon-assisted retrieval was successfully performed in all 12 cases, allowing for the complete removal of the indwelling catheter via gentle traction despite significant fibrotic encapsulation, calcification, and stenosis. Minimal blood loss was observed, and no further complications were reported.

conclusionThis case series revisits endoluminal balloon dilatation, an emerging technique for removing hemodialysis catheters, to demonstrate its application and efficacy in retrieving long-term port-a-cath catheters complicated by fibrotic encapsulation, calcification, and stenosis. This technique should be regarded as a primary retrieval option for retained port-a-caths in instances of severe fibrosis and calcification. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4, case series.

Indexed as

Balloon-assisted retrievalCase seriesCentral venous catheterPort-a-cathRetained catheter

Identifiers

PMID41094297
PMCPMC12528561

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