Management of Arterial Injuries Related to Cardiac Catheterization in Children and Young Adults

Abstract

Retrograde arterial catheterization in children and young adults carries a risk of vessel damage and occlusion. The management of 29 such injuries is presented. The first patient in this series died after amputation of his lower extremity for gangrene. In all patients in whom distal pulses were absent 8 hours after catheterization arterial obstruction was complete. Claudication developed in the two patients who were not operated upon. Twenty-seven patients had arterial exploration and repair. The indications for exploration and the surgical technics evolved during the series are presented. In 24 patients pulses and perfusion returned to normal after operation, and two patients had residual arterial obstruction without symptoms.