Arterial occlusion after cannulation.

The occurrence of ischaemic changes, arterial occlusion, and other complications which may follow percutaneous arterial cannulation was assessed in a survey of 155 patients. No patient complained of or had signs of ischaemic damage though signs of arterial occlusion were found in 33 patients (22%). These signs were significantly more common after periods of cannulation greater than six hours (43%) than after less than six hours cannulation (17%). During recovery from occlusion all patients had palpable pulsation over the artery even though blood flow seemed to be absent. By the end of follow-up blood flow had returned in 19 of the 33 occluded arteries.