Guidewires in clinical practice: applications and troubleshooting

Abstract

Guidewires are commonly used in clinical practice over a wide range of specialties. Their use has become more popular as a result of advances in endourology and interventional radiology, as well as in angiographic procedures. While there are many papers regarding individual guidewires and certain technical aspects, for the interested clinician there is little to give a generalized overview within the literature. This paper aims to review guidewires in terms of their make-up, applications and potential complications. Technical points are described, as well as rescue methods for complications, in the hope of preventing future litigation for those reading the paper.

Keywords::

• complications
• guidewire
• Seldinger
• technique
• urology
• uses

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.