Iatrogenic arterial injuries.

A review is presented of patients with an iatrogenic arterial injury treated during the period 1971 through 1976. Twelve patients sustained an arterial injury after diagnostic procedures, eight of them after angiography or heart catheterization. In three cases an injury of the radial artery was caused after puncture or cannulation for monitoring of blood gas values or blood pressure. In seven patients an arterial injury occurred after a therapeutic procedure. In two of them there was a lesion of the external iliac artery after gynaecological operations. Two other cases had an injury of the femoral artery after operation for varicose veins. Not infrequently, arterial injuries after diagnostic as well as after therapeutic procedures are not treated until in a later stage because they are initially overlooked. In only four patients was immediate repair carried out, and in fourteen correction was done later on. In all patients operated upon, the signs and symptoms of the iatrogenic arterial injury were controlled completely and the circulation could restored completely. Some late sequelae of arterial injuries are reviewed. In terms of prevention, the important factors are a sound knowledge of topographical anatomy and improvement of techniques and materials used with diagnostic procedures.