How to remove an embolized TriClip from the femoral vein? Case report

Background and case summary We report a case of a 76-year old female who was admitted to our hospital because of dyspnoea caused by a known high-grade tricuspid valve regurgitation. The patient received an edge-to-edge reparation of the tricuspid valve one month before the current admission using the TriClip XTR (Clip) system. The postinterventional echocardiographic results were satisfying, and the patient was discharged with tricuspid valve regurgitation grade I. At this new admission, the echocardiographic control showed a missing Clip on the tricuspid valve with a recurrent high-grade regurgitation. Fluoroscopy showed the dislocated Clip at the level of the femoral vein. This was also confirmed using Duplex sonography with no signs of thrombosis or embolization. The challenge was how to extract the Clip using endovascular methods as the patient refused any kind of surgical removal. We managed to remove the 20 x 10 mm big clip using transfemoral access and an endovascular snare system. No postinterventional complications were registered. The patient was discharged after the intervention with a new scheduled Clip procedure. Discussion This case shows a possible safe and challenging alternative to removing dislocated Clip from the femoral vein. Experienced operators are required to have the knowledge and skills to manage these possible procedural complications using the appropriate apparatus. A surgical technique would be, in this case, common practice, however as the patient declined surgical intervention, the endovascular approach was the alternative option.