Vascular complications following therapeutic and diagnostic cardiac catheterisation by the femoral artery

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Bitsch, Mikael^; | Liisberg-Larsen, Ole | Schroeder, Torben V.

Affiliations: Department of Vascular Surgery, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark

Note: [] Correspondence to: Dr. Mikael Bitsch, Department of Vascular Surgery — 2102, Rigshospitalet, Biegdamsvej 9, DK 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.

Abstract: Twenty-one of 6327 (0.33%) patients undergoing cardiac catheterisation via the femoral artery had an acute vascular complication requiring surgical intervention. The complication rate was 0.1% after coronary angiography, 2% after PTCA and 6% after aortic ballon dilatation. The size of the catheter and the duration of catheterisation were found to be risk factors. Most commonly simple arterial repair and/or thrombectomy was performed. No mortality was observed. Only in one case was blood transfusion necessary. The outcome of surgery was in all cases a good revascularisation of the leg. Registration and evaluation of vascular injuries following diagnostic and therapeutic invasive interventions could have a self limitating effect on the complication rate.

Keywords: Cardiac catheter, Arterial injury, Iatrogenic arterial injury

DOI: 10.3233/JRS-1994-4302

Journal: International Journal of Risk and Safety in Medicine, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 191-195, 1994