INTRAARTERIAL INJECTION OF PROCAINE

Abstract

In angiographic procedures, intraarterial injection of 5-10 ml. of 1 per cent procaine has been extensively used prior to withdrawal of the catheter, needle, on cannula in order to minimize arterial spasm. However, the angiographer must be aware of the possibility of cortical irritation if the procaine is injected rapidly. The symptoms are transient, but nevertheless alarming to both the patient and the angiographer.We report 2 patients who had percutaneous transaxillary arteriography, each of whom developed transient symptoms of marked cortical irritation following the rapid intravascular injection of 5 ml. of 1 per cent procaine just prior to the removal of the catheter.We believe that careful attention to slow injection quite near the arterial entry site will avoid such cortical irritation. To our knowledge this minor, but possibly major, complication has not been reported previously.