Abstract

INTRODUCTION

We aimed to find out the incidence of vascular complications, possible risk factors of having complication in the patients who had femoral access for cardiac catheterization. We planned to take precautions and decrease complication incidence.

METHODS

One hundred six patients who had catheterization in our center between dates 2011-2015 were included in the study. Age, weight, type of procedure, sheath size, duration after last angiography, complications, additional health problems of patients were recorded. Bilateral external iliac, femoral artery and veins are checked with Doppler ultrasonography.

RESULTS

Median age of 45 boys included was 21 months, median age of 42 girls included in the study was 42 months. Median bodyweight of boys and girls during angiography was 10kg and 13.5kg. Median time period after last angiography 28.5 months. Most common vessel that femoral sheath inserted was right femoral vein, least used femoral vessel was left femoral artery. Most common size was 5 French(Fr). Smallest sheath was 4 Fr, largest sheath was 10 Fr. Median duration of procedures was 44 minutes.

Doppler ultrasonography of total 106 patients was made. Inguinal hematoma was detected 3 months after angiography in an 18 months old boy who had VSD. It was resolved spontaneously in his follow-up.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

As technology improves; small sized sheaths and delivery catheters were brought to the market. Complication risks were decreased by providing better anti-coagulation and decreasing procedure duration.