[Current risk of heart catheterization study and angiocardiography in children. A prospective study].

Parental permission for cardiac catheterization assumes detailed information about the character and frequency of all potential and inevitable threatening complications despite of maximal care. However, data on this subject were derived mainly from older and/or retrospective studies. In order to evaluate the actual risk we performed a prospective study lasting 11 months. All complications occurring during the 24 h following this invasive procedure were recorded. During 462 consecutive cardiac catheterizations in 421 patients (including 24 balloon-atrio-septostomies and five myocardial biopsies) there were complications requiring treatment in 18.2% of all examinations. There was no lethal complication. The following complications were documented: arrhythmia 6.5%, acidosis 6.1%, problems due to catheterizing an arterial or venous vessel 3.9% and 0.4% respectively; acute blood loss 1.5%, and problems concerning the probe in general 1.1%. In a frequency of less than 1% we encountered hypoxic spells, myocardial ischemia, hypoventilation/respiratory failure, febrile reaction, and allergic reactions due to contrast media. Contrary to data of the literature we could show a significant reduction of the risks involved in this examination. The following factors have contributed to this improvement: 1) a more careful patient selection for this invasive procedure; 2) a more experienced examiner; 3) better monitoring during the procedure; 4) a more detailed diagnostic work-up prior to the examination; and 5) better premedication of the patient.