A HIDDEN COMPLICATION OF OUTPATIENT ARTERIOGRAPHY

Rapid progression of arterial disease may occur between out-patient di agnostic arteriography and therapeutic angioplasty. We have studied th e incidence of this complication in our institution. Sixty-seven conse cutive out-patient arteriograms were assessed. Thirty-four patients we re re-admitted for angioplasty within a median interval of 4 weeks (ra nge 5 days-3 months). We compared immediate preangioplasty arteriogram s with the out-patient images. Twenty-five pairs of films showed disea se progression. Three patients showed new disease, one remote from the site of the arterial lesion and two in the opposite limb. Six patient s showed marked progression of the original disease. The policy of del ayed treatment after out-patient arteriography may require reconsidera tion hi the light of our complication rate of 18%.