[Heart catheterization: experience with 1000 examinations]

Catheterization of the right and left heart by the percutaneous technique, incl. Rashkind's septostomy, was performed in 1000 patients with body weights from 2 kg and above between 1977 and 1984. The technique of the examination is described. The patients belonged to the following age groups: 1st day to one year--28%, 1-5 years--28.6%, 6-15 years--31.9%, above 15 years--11.5%. The authors recommend to reduce the incidence of complications by continuous monitoring of the blood pressure during catheterization by means of an arterial catheter. As to complications, they recorded three deaths within 24 hours after catheterization: 2 infants and one adult patient, i.e. a mortality rate of 0.3% as compared with 1.5-3% reported in the literature. As to serious dysrhythmias, there was once ventricular tachycardia and one ventricular fibrillation. In two patients during angiocardiography the contrast substance was injected into the myocardium. Cardiac tamponade was described twice. In one infant on the second day after catheterization a thrombus was removed from the femoral artery. A computer proved useful for the calculation of haemodynamic data.