Acute retinal arteriolar emboli after cardiac catheterization.
OBJECTIVE
There are concerns that cardiac catheterization may cause retinal embolization, a risk marker for cerebrovascular emboli and stroke. We describe the incidence of acute retinal embolism after cardiac catheterization.


METHODS
One hundred unselected patients attending a tertiary referral center for diagnostic cardiac catheterization were recruited. Digital retinal photography (optic disc and macular fields) was performed precatheterization and within 3 hours postcatheterization. New retinal emboli were identified by a senior researcher and confirmed by a retinal specialist.


RESULTS
There was one case of retinal embolus precatheterization. Two patients (incidence 2.02%; 95% CI, 0.25 to 7.11) developed new retinal arteriolar emboli after catheterization. No patient developed clinically apparent visual or neurological changes.


CONCLUSIONS
The risk of acute retinal embolism immediately after cardiac catheterization is 2%. This finding indicates that the retinal, and possibly the cerebral circulation, may be compromised more frequently than is clinically apparent as a complication of cardiac catheterization.
Kreis
Andreas J
AJ
Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
Nguyen
Thanh
T
Rogers
Sophie
S
Wang
Jie Jin
JJ
Harper
C Alex
CA
Clark
David J
DJ
Farouque
H M Omar
HM
Wong
Tien Y
TY
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004617:Embolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012161:Retinal Artery / Q000473:pathology*; D015356:Retinal Artery Occlusion / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors