Abdominal aortography and femoral arteriography. A review of an experience with 330 examinations.

Abstract

Arteriography is of prime importance in the diagnosis of occlusive arterial disease and in evaluating patients for reconstructive arterial surgery. Unfortunately, these examinations are not without some risks. Hemorrhage, 14 thrombosis, 13 and tissue necrosis, 5,7 as well as renal 1,6,7,10,12 and spinal cord 2 damage have been reported. In some cases these complications have resulted in death of the patients. 3,4,12 The purpose of this report is twofold—first, to present an analysis of 330 arterial dye injection studies using sodium acetrizoate (Urokon), illustrating a minimal complication rate; and second, to document precautions which can minimize many of the more serious complications inherent in the technique employed. Clinical Experience In an 8-year period, 1952 through 1959, there was a total of 330 arteriographic studies performed which may be divided into 3 categories: (1) 135 abdominal aortograms obtained by translumbar injection of 70% sodium acetrizoate; (2) 64 femoral arteriograms performed