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Professional Technical IVT

guide wire entrapment

A procedural complication where the coronary guide wire becomes mechanically trapped and cannot be withdrawn.

Full Definition

Guide wire entrapment is a rare but serious complication during percutaneous coronary intervention where the guide wire becomes mechanically trapped within the coronary anatomy and cannot be withdrawn. This can occur due to wire kinking, entanglement with stent struts, severe vessel tortuosity, or calcified lesions. Management strategies include parallel wire techniques, balloon inflation to straighten the vessel, guide extension catheters, or in extreme cases, surgical removal. The complication may require leaving the wire permanently in place if removal risks vessel injury.

Usage

Usage note: Use 'guide wire' as two words in clinical contexts. Hyphenate when used as compound modifier.

In Context

  • "Guide wire entrapment occurred due to severe kinking in the tortuous circumflex artery." — Complication report
  • "The parallel wire technique successfully freed the entrapped guide wire without vessel injury." — Procedure note

Also known as

guide wire trapping coronary wire entrapment

Don't confuse with

wire fracture wire perforation

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