title: Long-Term Outcome of Catheter-Related Arterial Thrombosis in Infants with Congenital Heart Disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the long-term outcome of catheter-related arterial thrombosis in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from clinical and radiologic long-term follow-up of infants with congenital heart disease developing arterial thrombosis following femoral catheterization are presented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-five infants with radiologically proven arterial thrombosis because of cardiac catheter (n = 52; 55%) or indwelling arterial catheter (n = 43; 45%) were followed for a median time of 23.5 months (IQR 13.3-47.3). Overall, radiologic complete thrombus resolution was observed in 64 (67%), partial resolution in 8 (9%), and no resolution in 23 (24%) infants. Complete resolution was significantly more frequent in infants with indwelling arterial catheter-related thrombosis compared with cardiac catheter-related thrombosis (P = .001). Patients with complete resolution had a significantly lower blood pressure difference and increased ankle-ankle index compared with patients with partial or no resolution (P < .0001). However, symptoms of claudication were present only in 1 case and clinical significant legs growth retardation (≥ 15 mm) was present in 1%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant percentage of persistent occlusion is present in children with arterial catheter-related thrombosis on long-term follow-up. In these children, the magnitude of leg growth retardation is small and possibly not clinically relevant. However, in children with congenital heart disease, the high prevalence of persistent arterial occlusion may hamper future diagnostic and/or interventional catheterization.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of Hematology, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Mattia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rizzi
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland; Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kroiss
authors.affiliation: Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland; Division of Cardiology, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kretschmar
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ishilde
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Forster
authors.affiliation: Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland; Intensive Care Unit, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brotschi
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland; Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: manuela.albisetti@kispi.uzh.ch.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Albisetti
mesh_terms: D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*