Endovascular retrieval of left atrial appendage closure device embolized to the aorta

Patients with atrial fibrillation with contraindications to anticoagulation can undergo left atrial appendage closure with a device. Hours after a 73-year-old man had undergone left atrial appendage closure, he lost perfusion to his lower extremities. Imaging studies showed that the device had migrated to the infrarenal aorta. After right common femoral artery cutdown and sheath placement, the device was retrieved with a balloon embolectomy catheter, and a balloon was simultaneously deployed in the proximal left common femoral artery to prevent device embolization. To the best of our knowledge, this report represents the first documented device retrieval from the aorta using balloon embolectomy and contralateral lower extremity embolic protection.