Complications Following Catheter Angiography

After development of every new investigative technique, reports of disasters have appeared indicating the fact that each new advance is beset with its problems and complications. However, in most instances the knowledge gained to improve diagnosis and therapy far outweighs the occasional mischance. Nevertheless it behooves us to know the possible errors and misfortunes so as to be constantly on guard to prevent these complications or to treat them rapidly if they occur.

The newer methods of angiography and cardiac catheterization have been the foundation of cardiovascular surgery, permitting a solid base for the advancement of medical and surgical techniques. However, the mere fact of needling or catheterizing functioning blood vessels has given rise to new problems in the way of dissection of arteries, thrombosis, and occlusion of major branches with the attendant sequelae.^1-4 The spate of reports of complications after translumbar aortography attests to the fact that occasionally,