ABSTRACT
Coronary Angiography in Vulnerable Populations There is an increased risk of complications in general in those individuals who exceed 70 years of age, have congenital heart disease, obesity, cachexia, uncontrolled glucose intolerance, arterial oxygen desaturation, severe chronic obstructive lung disease, and renal insufficiency with creatinine greater than 1.5 mg/dL (3,11). There is an increase risk of cardiac complications among patients with three-vessel CAD, left main (LM) lesions, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV, significant mitral or aortic valve disease, ejection fraction (EF) < 35%, high-risk exercise treadmill test (ETT), pulmonary hypertension, and pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PCWP) in excess of 25 mmHg (3,11). Another group of patients is at particular risk of vascular complications including those with anticoagulation or bleeding diathesis, uncontrolled systemic hypertension, severe PVD, recent stroke and severe aortic insufficiency (3,11).
