Acute retinal arteriolar emboli after cardiac catheterization.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There are concerns that cardiac catheterization may cause retinal embolization, a risk marker for cerebrovascular emboli and stroke. We describe the incidence of acute retinal embolism after cardiac catheterization. METHODS: One hundred unselected patients attending a tertiary referral center for diagnostic cardiac catheterization were recruited. Digital retinal photography (optic disc and macular fields) was performed precatheterization and within 3 hours postcatheterization. New retinal emboli were identified by a senior researcher and confirmed by a retinal specialist. RESULTS: There was one case of retinal embolus precatheterization. Two patients (incidence 2.02%; 95% CI, 0.25 to 7.11) developed new retinal arteriolar emboli after catheterization. No patient developed clinically apparent visual or neurological changes. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of acute retinal embolism immediately after cardiac catheterization is 2%. This finding indicates that the retinal, and possibly the cerebral circulation, may be compromised more frequently than is clinically apparent as a complication of cardiac catheterization.
Duke Scholars
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Related Subject Headings
- Risk Factors
- Retinal Artery Occlusion
- Retinal Artery
- Neurology & Neurosurgery
- Middle Aged
- Male
- Humans
- Embolism
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Aged, 80 and over
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Risk Factors
- Retinal Artery Occlusion
- Retinal Artery
- Neurology & Neurosurgery
- Middle Aged
- Male
- Humans
- Embolism
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Aged, 80 and over