Related Experiment Videos
Cholesterol atheroembolism: an increasingly frequent complication of cardiac catheterisation
H T Ong1, W G Elmsly, D H Friedlander
1Waikato Hospital, Hamilton, New Zealand.
Insights
Cholesterol atheroembolism, a complication of cardiac catheterisation, affects elderly patients with severe atherosclerosis. Despite interventions, all reported cases were fatal, highlighting the need for vigilance.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Pathology
Background:
- Cholesterol atheroembolism is an emerging complication of cardiac catheterisation procedures.
- Elderly patients with extensive atherosclerosis are particularly vulnerable.
Abstract:
Cholesterol atheroembolisation is increasingly encountered as a complication of cardiac catheterisation. We report three cases seen recently in our unit. Autopsy and histological evidence confirmed cholesterol atheroembolism in one case, while the other two patients presented with classical clinical features of this condition. All three patients were elderly with extensive atheromatous disease. No excessive difficulty was encountered at catheterisation. Embolisation involved the gastrointestinal tract, the skin and extremities, and the kidneys. Despite anticoagulation, dialysis and surgical intervention all our patients died. With investigative and therapeutic catheterisation being increasingly performed in the setting of severe atherosclerosis, the need for continued scrutiny for catheter-induced complications is emphasised.