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

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.