Prosthetic arterial graft occlusion: a complication of tourniquet use during arteriography

Tourniquet-induced reactive hyperemia, generally considered a safe procedure for enhancing visualization of the arteries in the distal lower extremity, caused acute occlusion of a Dacron arterial graft in one patient. This rare complication can be avoided through use of an alternative such as a chemical vasodilator in patients with susceptible synthetic vascular grafts.