J Korean Med Sci.  2001 Jun;16(3):375-377. 10.3346/jkms.2001.16.3.375.

Surgical Treatment of Digital Ischemia Occurred after Radial Artery Catheterization

• Lee MK
• Lee IO
• Kong MH
• Han SK
• Lim SH

• KMID: 1129916
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2001.16.3.375

Abstract

Permanent ischemic injury of the hand after radial artery cannulation is rare, but several cases of thromboembolism after the cannulation leading to amputation of affected limb or digits have been reported. A 48-yr-old man undergoing spine surgery showed normal modified Allen's test and had no preoperative vascular disease. We inserted 20-G radial artery catheter for the continuous monitoring of the blood flow and serial blood sampling. There was no specific event during the operation and the catheter was removed immediately after the operation. The signs and symptoms of the circulatory impairment of the radial artery developed four days after the operation and aggravated thereafter. Through the angiographic study, we found the total occlusion of the radial artery and some of its branches. After an emergent surgical exploration of the radial artery for removal of the thrombus and vein graft for the defect of the artery on the 8th postoperative day, the ischemic signs and symptoms disappeared and the radial pulse was restored.

Keyword

Anesthesia; Catheterization; Postoperative Complications; Ischemia

MeSH Terms

Catheterization, Peripheral/*adverse effects
Embolectomy
Fingers/*blood supply/radiography
Hand/*blood supply/radiography
Human
Male
Middle Age
Peripheral Vascular Diseases/etiology/*surgery
Radial Artery/*abnormalities/surgery
Thromboembolism/etiology/*surgery
Treatment Outcome