Neurologic complications due to catheterization

In our university cardiac center, the incidence of a cohort of children wit h acute neurologic complications resulting from cardiac catheterization per formed for acyanotic or cyanotic congenital heart disease is 0.38% (14 chil dren of a total of 3,648 catheterization procedures), Neurologic complicati ons consisted of convulsion (n = 10), stroke (n = 6), intracranial hemorrha ge (n = 2), extrapyramidal features (n = 1), paraplegia (n = 1), visual imp airment (n = 1), hearing impairment (n = 1), and brachial plexus injury (n = 1), The main risk factors included prolonged duration of catheterization procedure and interventional manipulation in addition to cardiac catheteriz ation, The possible mechanisms causing brain injury included cerebral embol ism from local clots and hypoxia resulting from complications during the pr ocedure. Other complications included intracranial hemorrhage secondary to anticoagulation and peripheral plexopathy because of prolonged fixed postur e during anesthesia. The prognosis for the majority of patients with stroke is good. Neurologic sequelae, such as global developmental delay or epilep sy, occurred in those with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. (C) 2001 by Els evier Science Inc. All rights reserved.