POST CATHETER DIAGNOSTIC CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY THROMBOTIC COMPLICATIONS AT FEMORAL VASCULAR ACCESS SITE- AN ULTRASOUND BASED STUDY

Thrombotic Complications at Femoral Vascular Access Site

Abstract

Objective:
 To determine the frequency of atherosclerotic plaques in common femoral artery in patients undergoing coronary angiography.
 Identify any significant post procedure change in plaque morphology.
 Determine the number of patients who develop thrombosis at the access site.
Study Design: Descriptive study
Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in Radiology Department, Military Hospital, Rawalpindi from 10 Aug 2005 - 09 Feb 2006.
Patients and Method: The patients undergoing coronary angiography were included in the study. Doppler ultrasound of the right common femoral artery (vascular access site) was done prior to and following coronary angiography. The ultrasound examinations were performed on ALOKA Prosound SSD 5500 using 7.5 MHz linear array probe.
Results: Out of the 100 patients included in the study, atherosclerotic plaque was detected in 10 patients at the femoral access site. Out of these 10 patients, having a plaque at access site 01 patient developed a thrombus at the access site. The post procedure diameter of the femoral artery was significantly reduced.
Conclusion: Despite the advancements in technique and equipment a thrombus can form at the vascular access site. Doppler ultrasonography proves an ideal diagnostic tool in evaluation of cases with suspected access site complications.