title: Complications of cardiac catheterization: one centre's experience.
abstract: Data on complication rates in a cardiac catheterization laboratory were prospectively gathered over a 6-year period. During this time 7960 catheterizations were performed. Death occurred in seven (0.1%) of the cases. The difference between the mortality rates for procedures performed with and without systemically administered heparin (0.04% and 0.2% respectively) was barely statistically significant (p less than 0.05). A significant complication occurred in 1.5% of the cases; however, most did not have long-term sequelae. No significant change in the annual rate of such complications was seen during the study period. Such a tabulation permits audit of quality of care, points out changing trends in morbidity and offers meaningful information on the safety of cardiac catheterization to referring physicians and their patients.
mesh_terms: D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000293:injuries; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D006493:Heparin