Delayed Migration of an Amplatzer PFO Occluder to the Infrarenal Abdominal Aorta: Successful Endovascular Snare Retrieval

<b>Background and Clinical Significance:</b> Embolization of septal occluder devices after patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure is uncommon but potentially serious, as migrated devices may lodge in the arterial system and require urgent management. Cross-sectional imaging may reveal delayed migration incidentally, and endovascular snare retrieval represents a minimally invasive first-line strategy in stable patients. <b>Case Presentation:</b> An 18-year-old woman presented with acute abdominal pain one month after percutaneous PFO closure performed for preventive purposes in the setting of migraine with visual aura. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT), obtained for suspected intra-abdominal bleeding, demonstrated hemoperitoneum from a hemorrhagic ovarian cyst and incidentally identified the Amplatzer occluder lodged in the infrarenal abdominal aorta with preserved renal artery patency. Transthoracic echocardiography confirmed device absence at the interatrial septum. Endovascular retrieval was performed via right common femoral artery access (5 Fr upsized to 12 Fr) using a 20 mm snare system, with successful removal of the device through the introducer and no intra-procedural complications. <b>Conclusions:</b> Delayed migration of a PFO occluder can be detected incidentally during evaluation for unrelated symptoms. In hemodynamically stable patients, transfemoral endovascular snare capture and re-sheathing through a large-bore introducer can achieve safe and effective device retrieval while preserving aorto-iliac patency.

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Journal
Reports — Medical Cases Images and Videos
Published
2026-02-25
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/reports9010068
Primary Topic
Aortic aneurysm repair treatments
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article
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article

Delayed Migration of an Amplatzer PFO Occluder to the Infrarenal Abdominal Aorta: Successful Endovascular Snare Retrieval

Rodolfo Nasti, Mafalda Esposito, Elisa Rusciano, Ciro Mauro
Reports — Medical Cases Images and Videos
Aortic aneurysm repair treatments
article

Delayed Migration of an Amplatzer PFO Occluder to the Infrarenal Abdominal Aorta: Successful Endovascular Snare Retrieval

Rodolfo Nasti, Mafalda Esposito, Elisa Rusciano, Ciro Mauro
article en

Abstract

<b>Background and Clinical Significance:</b> Embolization of septal occluder devices after patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure is uncommon but potentially serious, as migrated devices may lodge in the arterial system and require urgent management. Cross-sectional imaging may reveal delayed migration incidentally, and endovascular snare retrieval represents a minimally invasive first-line strategy in stable patients. <b>Case Presentation:</b> An 18-year-old woman presented with acute abdominal pain one month after percutaneous PFO closure performed for preventive purposes in the setting of migraine with visual aura. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT), obtained for suspected intra-abdominal bleeding, demonstrated hemoperitoneum from a hemorrhagic ovarian cyst and incidentally identified the Amplatzer occluder lodged in the infrarenal abdominal aorta with preserved renal artery patency. Transthoracic echocardiography confirmed device absence at the interatrial septum. Endovascular retrieval was performed via right common femoral artery access (5 Fr upsized to 12 Fr) using a 20 mm snare system, with successful removal of the device through the introducer and no intra-procedural complications. <b>Conclusions:</b> Delayed migration of a PFO occluder can be detected incidentally during evaluation for unrelated symptoms. In hemodynamically stable patients, transfemoral endovascular snare capture and re-sheathing through a large-bore introducer can achieve safe and effective device retrieval while preserving aorto-iliac patency.

Reports — Medical Cases Images and VideosVol. 9(1)
Ospedale Antonio Cardarelli (IT), Fatebenefratelli Hospital (IT), Federico II University Hospital (IT)
Gender equality
Openalex Percentile: Top 44%
Aortic aneurysm repair treatments
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