Mediastinal and neck hematoma after cardiac catheterization.

Vascular complications after cardiac catheterization are rare and usually occur at the access sites. However, vessels along the tract of the catheter can also be injured, causing bleeding and hematoma formation. We present a 57-year-old male who underwent cardiac catheterization via the radial approach, later developing neck and mediastinal hematoma, which was managed conservatively. This complication has only been reported once in the English literature. Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.