Long-term results of brachial thrombectomy following cardiac catheterization.

The late results of brachial thrombectomy following cardiac catheterization were evaluated in 20 patients. All patients had a radial pulse present and no symptoms or signs of ischemia of the hand at the time of discharge from the hospital. Late evaluation of these 20 patients revealed 8 in whom the long-term results were classified as failure of the thrombectomy. Four of these had intermittent claudication of the involved arm and hand. None had any tissue loss and four had no symptoms referable to the failed thrombectomy. The one patient who refused surgery had claudication of the affected arm. The mean period of followup was 20.8 months. The rate of failed thrombectomies was twice as high in females than in males. Prolonged time of cardiac catheterization (over 4 hours), delay in diagnosis of more than 24 hours, and omitting the use of systemic heparinization at the time of diagnosis are three factors that appear to increase the likelihood of late failures.