Background and Aims In recent years, a certain progress has been achieved in techniques for intravascular foreign body (IFB) retrieval with the development of interventional technologies and devices. However, IFB retrieval presents different degrees of operative difficulty due to the different types, lodgment sites and sizes of the IFB. Therefore, the authors summarized and analyzed the treatment processes of patients with iatrogenic and non-iatrogenic IFB admitted in recent years in this paper, aiming to provide some helpful guidance for clinical practice.Methods The data of 15 patients with IFB treated in the Department of General Surgery of the 900th Hospital of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Joint Service Support Force from January 2012 to September 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The sources and lodgment sites of the IFB, and surgical procedures were summarized, with review of the relevant literature.Results Of the 15 patients, 12 cases were iatrogenic IFB and 3 cases were non-iatrogenic IFB, and 9 cases were males and 6 cases were females, aged 21-79 years, with an average of (56.67±17.63) years. The operative time was 20-110 min, with an average of (51±23.62) min. The primary diseases included 3 cases of trauma, 2 cases of breast cancer, 2 cases of gastric cancer, 2 cases of deep vein thrombosis of lower limbs, 2 cases of lung cancer, 1 case of liver cancer, 1 case of cervical cancer, 1 case of cerebral infarction with carotid artery stenosis, 1 case of renal insufficiency. The IFB was successfully removed in all the 15 patients, the technical success and rate was 100%. Ten cases were removed by interventional therapy alone, 1 case was removed under laparoscopic surgery, 4 cases were removed by incision of the traditional surgery. Except for 1 case of aortic rupture and massive hemorrhage caused by vascular stent displacement before operation, the other cases had no corresponding complications, such as vascular rupture, bleeding, infection, secondary thrombosis. Anticoagulation treatment was administered after operation. Follow-up for the 15 patients demonstrated that no complications occurred in all of them and the vascular patency was maintained as evidenced by ultrasound.Conclusion The IFB in most patients can be treated by emergency surgery, and the preferred treatment is interventional therapy. For simple cases, the IFB can be captured by a gooseneck catcher. For those more difficult to remove, the guide wire can be shaped or a larger annular snare can be used. The operator needs to be patient during the operation. For the difficult cases of interventional operation, the intraoperative treatment conversion to a laparoscopic or open surgery is also recommended, based on the specific clinical conditions.