Inadvertent intra-arterial drug injections: the role of angiographic and clinical findings.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the angiographic findings of patients who have inadvertently injected oral formulations of drugs into an upper extremity artery.


METHODS
The radiology files for the previous 4 years were analyzed retrospectively. Seven patients were referred from the Emergency Department for angiography and possible thrombolysis during that time period.


RESULTS
The worst clinical results were found among the patients whose angiographic examinations showed absent flow. Two patients who were treated with local thrombolysis had no better results compared to the other five patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings of delayed flow and absent flow in angiography should lead to intensified conservative treatment, especially among patients who have clinical findings of delayed capillary refilling or/and impaired muscular strength.
Rautio
R
R
Department of Radiology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland. riitta.rautio@tyks.fi
Keski-Nisula
L
L
D000059:Accidents; D000328:Adult; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D000792:Angiography; D001158:Arteries / Q000187:drug effects; D002196:Capillaries / Q000187:drug effects; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D004550:Elbow / Q000098:blood supply; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007269:Injections, Intra-Arterial / Q000009:adverse effects; D007511:Ischemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000187:drug effects; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*
D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations