Retroperitoneal hemorrhage from inferior epigastric artery: value of femoral angiography for detection and management.

Laceration of the inferior epigastric artery during cardiac catheterization is under-reported in the literature, but it is a serious complication leading to retroperitoneal hemorrhage and even death. We report on two cases of retroperitoneal bleeding from unintentional puncture of the inferior epigastric artery during cardiac catheterization. Femoral angiography is a valuable tool to promptly recognize this complication.