Am J Emerg Med. 2025 Nov 14;100:114-116. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2025.11.012. Online ahead of print.

During central venous catheter (CVC) placement, guidewire retention represents a potentially serious adverse event that can precipitate vascular injury, thrombosis, and life-threatening complications. While vascular intervention is traditionally considered the primary solution for such incidents, it simultaneously introduces additional risks of patient trauma and increased healthcare burden. We provide a detailed description of a case involving the retention of a guidewire following the placement of CVC. This incident occurred due to the operator’s failure to monitor the external portion of the guidewire, resulting in its inadvertent retention beneath the skin. To mitigate the potential risks of complications, we implemented an innovative «suction» method. This method effectively removed the guidewire by connecting a 50 mL syringe to the midsection of the catheter and employing intermittent negative pressure. The entire procedure exhibited outstanding effectiveness, successfully retrieving the guidewire while ensuring patient safety. This is the first reported clinical use of a previously described novel method for managing guidewire retention during CVC insertion. This straightforward bedside method offers a promising alternative to more invasive interventional strategies, with the potential to reduce procedural risks and conserve medical resources.

PubMed:41317461 | DOI:10.1016/j.ajem.2025.11.012