title: Complications of right heart catheterization procedures in patients with pulmonary hypertension in experienced centers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study sought to assess the risks associated with right heart catheter procedures in patients with pulmonary hypertension.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Right heart catheterization, pulmonary vasoreactivity testing, and pulmonary angiography are established diagnostic tools in patients with pulmonary hypertension, but the risks associated with these procedures have not been systematically evaluated in a multicenter study.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a multicenter 5-year retrospective and 6-month prospective evaluation of serious adverse events related to right heart catheter procedures in patients with pulmonary hypertension, as defined by a mean pulmonary artery pressure >25 mm Hg at rest, undergoing right heart catheterization with or without pulmonary vasoreactivity testing or pulmonary angiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the retrospective period, 5,727 right heart catheter procedures were reported, and 1,491 were reported from the prospective period, for a total of 7,218 right heart catheter procedures performed. The results from the retrospective and the prospective analyses were almost identical. The overall number of serious adverse events was 76 (1.1%, 95% confidence interval 0.8% to 1.3%). The most frequent complications were related to venous access (e.g., hematoma, pneumothorax), followed by arrhythmias and hypotensive episodes related to vagal reactions or pulmonary vasoreactivity testing. The vast majority of these complications were mild to moderate in intensity and resolved either spontaneously or after appropriate intervention. Four fatal events were recorded in association with any of the catheter procedures, resulting in an overall procedure-related mortality of 0.055% (95% confidence interval 0.01% to 0.099%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When performed in experienced centers, right heart catheter procedures in patients with pulmonary hypertension are associated with low morbidity and mortality rates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. hoeper.marius@mh-hannover.de
authors.forename: Marius M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Hoeper
authors.forename: Stephen H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Voswinckel
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palazzini
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jais
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marinelli
authors.forename: Robyn J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Barst
authors.forename: Hossein A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Ghofrani
authors.forename: Zhi-Cheng
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Opitz
authors.forename: Hans-Juergen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Seyfarth
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Halank
authors.forename: Vallerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.forename: Ronald J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Oudiz
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ewert
authors.forename: Heinrike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wilkens
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kluge
authors.forename: Hinrich-Cordt
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Bremer
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baroke
authors.forename: Lewis J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Rubin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk