Pulmonary arteriography in the high-risk patient

In order to assess the magnitude of risk associated with pulmonary arteriography in patients with pulmonary hypertension and/or right ventricular dysfunction, retrospectively reviewed the incidence of major nonfatal complications and death in patients with these conditions. Of 1,434 examinations, 388 (27%) were performed in patients with pulmonary hypertension and/or elevated right ventricular end-diastolic pressure. Major complications related to contrast agent injection occurred in 30 (2%) of the 1,434 examinations and included chest pain, respiratory distress, arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, and death (two patients). Six (2%) of these complications, including both deaths, occurred in the study group. Both patients who died had severe cardiopulmonary compromise, but most patients with severe cardiopulmonary compromise tolerated angiography well