The Incidence, Etiologies, and Avoidance of Complications of Pulmonary Angiography in a Large Series

Pulmonary angiography is sensitive and specific in the diagnosis of pulmonary thromboembolism, but it remains an invasive procedure. Experience with 1,350 pulmonary angiograms was reviewed to ascertain the incidence, etiologies, and avoidance of complications. There were three deaths, all of which were secondary to cor pulmonale in patients with pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular end diastolic pressure (RVEDP) equal to or greater than 20 mmHg. Other complications consisted of cardiac perforation in 14 patients and endocardial or myocardial injury in six without sequelae, 11 significant arrhythmias and five cardiac arrests successfully treated, minor contrast material reactions in 11 patients, and a few insignificant complications. Carefully performed pulmonary angiography is safe if one avoids injecting contrast material into a patient with an elevated RVEDP.