Pseudo complications of cardiac catheterization: update

This prospective study was performed to determine whether complications that occur immediately before or after the time of scheduled catheterization are as much disease-related as procedure-related. During 24 months all complications associated with 1,606 diagnostic cardiac catheterizations were recorded if they occurred from 24 hours before the time the procedure was scheduled to 72 hours later, longer if complications were clearly procedure-related. Pseudo complications are spontaneous medical or surgical incidents that occur during the 24-hour period before catheterization is scheduled to be performed. Procedure-related complications are incidents that occur during or after the catheterization procedure. There were 13 (0.81%) procedure-related complications but not deaths. There were 13 (0.81%) pseudo complications including 4 (0.24%) deaths. All complications were similar in nature except for 3 instances of vascular injury, which were procedure-related. Pseudo complications occur as commonly as procedure-related complications and at times are more severe. Complications occurring before catheterization are related to the underlying disease process and not medical intervention. It is likely that similar disease-caused incidents occur after a catheterization and are not necessarily procedure-related.