A ureteral single-J stent in the right atrium

BACKGROUND: J stents are commonly used to support the continuity of the urinary tract. Although intravascular, and more specific intracardiac, migrations have been described, they remain infrequent and unrecognized.

CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 57-year-old Caucasian woman with an intracardial migration of a single-J stent after pelvic exenteration. The intracardiac presence of single-J stent was probably due to a perioperative misplacement of the stent in the left ovarian vein. Retrieval was done under fluoroscopic control without any adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS: Intravascular migration of urological stents is uncommon but can cause serious morbidities and even mortality. Perioperative precautions must be taken to avoid this problem. In case of migration, early diagnosis and management are primordial and involve a multidisciplinary approach.