Neuropathy after cardiac catheterization
Neuropathy after cardiac catheterization.
In a series of ≈ 10,000 patients followed after femoral artery catheterization 1) (e.g. for coronary angiography or angioplasty), neuropathy occurred in 0.2% (with an estimated range in the literature up to ≈ 3%). Risk factors identified include patients developing retroperitoneal hematomas or pseudoaneurysms after the procedure, procedures requiring larger introducer sheaths (e.g. angioplasty & stent placement > diagnostic catheterization), excessive anticoagulation (PTT > 90 for at least 12 hours).
Excruciating pain after the catheterization procedure often preceded the development or recognition of neuropathy.
1)
Kent CK, Moscucci M, Gallagher SG, et al. Neuropathies After Cardiac Catheterization: Incidence, Clinical Patterns, and Long-Term Outcome. J Vasc Surg. 1994; 19:1008–1014