Coronary catheterisation does not lead to retinal artery emboli in short-term follow-up of cardiac patients.
OBJECTIVE
There is emerging evidence that coronary catheterization can cause cerebrovascular embolization. We aimed to assess the proportion of cardiac patients with retinal emboli before coronary catheterization and the proportion with newly developed retinal embolism shortly after coronary catheterization.


METHODS
Ninety-seven patients attending Westmead Hospital for coronary catheterization between December 2005 and February 2006 were recruited. Medical history, physical examination, and pre- and postcatheterization photography of 5 retinal fields was performed. The proportion of patients with new retinal emboli was assessed by comparing post- and precatheterization retinal photographs.


RESULTS
Before catheterization, retinal emboli were observed in 5 patients (5.2%) and were significantly associated with higher body mass index (P=0.007). The presence of angiographic coronary artery disease was not significantly associated with preexisting retinal emboli. In 97 patients, we found no new emboli within the 16-hour (median: range 4 to 45 hours) postcoronary catheterization period.


CONCLUSIONS
Asymptomatic retinal emboli are relatively common in patients being assessed for coronary artery disease. We found no evidence suggesting coronary catheterization contributes to retinal embolism shortly after the procedure.
Thyer
Isaac
I
Kovoor
Pramesh
P
Wang
Jie Jin
JJ
Taylor
Bronwen
B
Kifley
Annette
A
Lindley
Richard
R
Mitchell
Paul
P
Thiagalingam
Aravinda
A
D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015984:Causality; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015356:Retinal Artery Occlusion / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors