Experience with systemic heparinization during cardiac catheterization by brachial arteriotomy.

Experience with systemic heparinization during cardiac catheterization by brachial arteriotomy has been investigated by a prospective study. In 253 catheterizations no complications attributable to heparinization occurred. The incidence of impaired (2 4%) and absent (i *6%) radial pulses after catheterization was lower than in some series. The majority ofcomplications were related to local trauma at the site ofcatheter introduction and were related to the type of catheter used. The incidence of post-catheterization occlusion requiring thrombectomy was significantly lowerfor those with systemic heparinization thanfor those where heparin was omitted or reversed, though the numbers involved were small. We conclude that systemic heparinization is a useful and safe technique during cardiac catheterization and can help to reduce the incidence of local thrombosis.