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RACS ASC 2025
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Extravascular migration of a wire into the abdomen; A surgical dilemma
Poster
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Poster

Disciplines

Vascular Surgery

Talk Description

Institution: Auckland City Hospital, General Surgery - NZ, Aotearoa New Zealand

Purpose To highlight the risk of interventional wire migration in complex surgical patients. To illustrate wires can move over time and transverse surgical planes between vascular and visceral structures and maybe asymptomatic or quite troublesome, requiring surgical removal. Challenge traditional teaching that retained wires can be left without issue. Methodology: We present a 52-year-old male who had been admitted with a complex surgical issue with prolonged ICU stay. He had multiple central lines and vascular procedures and was discharged. Months later he presented with abdominal pain and cross-sectional imaging showing a retained wire in his central vasculature. After conservative treatment the patient represented with abdominal pain and a CT scan showed migration of the wire intra-peritoneal with query small bowel involvement. Results: Based on MDT discussion with Vascular Surgery a diagnostic laparoscopy was performed and demonstrated a 20cm wire sitting freely in the abdomen without any visceral or vascular involvement. It was removed with an endoscopic grasper via a 5mm endoscopic port. The small bowel and surrounding organs were checked and had no damage. The wire was intact and looked to be a rapid infusion catheter. Portable x-ray imaging ensured no left-over wire. Conclusions: Wire migration is rare with current teaching advocating for conservative management. However, we present an interesting case showing how far wires can move and can cause abdominal pain requiring surgical removal. An MDT approach is advocated and imaging to ensure entire wire removal.
Presenters
Authors
Authors

Dr Devlin Elliott -