Complications in 4,413 catheterizations of the right side of the heart

Venospasm in Contrast Venography‐Guided Axillary Vein Puncture for Pacemaker Lead Implantation

“…However, the exact mechanism remains unknown. Sublingual nitroglycerin, 6 local application of 2% nitroglycerin ointment, 7 intravenous injection of meperidine, or local infiltration of procaine 1 have been used with effect to relieve venospasm. In this case, incremental doses of 200 and 400 µg of intravenous nitroglycerin failed to relieve venospasm of the axillary vein.…”

“…Venospasm is a recognized complication during right heart catheterizations 1 . The reported incidence was 2% and it occurred most frequently when the veins were small or tortuous.…”

Left ventriculography induced coronary artery spasm

“…Catheter manipulation in various cardiac chambers has been reported to result in coronary artery spasm (Hager and Orth, 1964;Wennevold et al, 1965). Although placement of the pigtail catheter into the left ventricle in our case resulted in no symptoms, it is possible that the additional mechanical stimulation of a large bolus of dye into the left ventricle resulted in spasm.…”

Longterm remission of left posterior fascicular ventricular tachycardia due to mechanical trauma

“…This conduction block is ascribed to mechanical trauma and is referred to as "catheter-induced trauma". Catheter-induced trauma has been reported in the atrioventricular node 7,8 , the His bundle 9 , the right bundle branch 10 , the atrium 11 , and the accessory pathways 11,12 . Catheter-induced mechanical trauma incidence was reported in 2-14% of patients receiving radiofrequency ablation for supraventricular tachycardia 8,11,12 .…”