ABSTRACT
RISKS The risk of complications from cardiac catheterization has decreased over time and is <1% in the majority of cases (Table 5.4). Even with experienced operators and modern equipment, complications will occur. Many factors including patient demographics, comorbidities, cardiovascular anatomy, procedural type and circumstances, and operator and hospital volume, can influence the risk to an individual patient and these should be weighed in each case (25,26). The risks are lowest in stable patients undergoing elective procedures and diagnostic angiography in this setting has <0.1% risk of a major adverse event such as death, MI, or stroke (27-29). The risk can increase up to eightfold in patients with multivessel disease, congestive heart failure, and renal insufficiency (30). To justify performance of the procedure the expected benefits, in terms of diagnostic or therapeutic outcomes, should be greater than the potential risks. Physicians performing invasive procedures have to be knowledgeable about potential complications and capable of administering treatment. This way every effort can be made to minimize the incidence and severity of complications, many of which are immediately life-threatening. The most common complications of cardiac catheterization are reviewed below.
