iothalamate-meglumine and Thrombosis

Asymptomatic thrombosis of the subclavian vein is common after placement of indwelling catheters. The sequelae of these thrombi are not known. Investigation is hampered by the requirement for venography for diagnosis; consequently, a noninvasive method of diagnosis would be welcome in this context. We have studied prospectively 32 subclavian catheters to determine the usefulness of duplex ultrasound in diagnosing asymptomatic thrombosis. Sixteen arm venograms were normal and all gave normal duplex scans. No false-positive scans were obtained. Eleven venograms demonstrated nonocclusive mural thrombi. Only three of these were seen with duplex ultrasound. Five totally occlusive thrombi were seen on venography, of which only two were detected with duplex sonography. The three thrombi not found with duplex ultrasound were short proximal venous occlusions. The insensitivity of this technique to asymptomatic subclavian thrombi limits its usefulness as a screening tool.

Topics: Blood Flow Velocity; Catheterization, Peripheral; Catheters, Indwelling; Humans; Iothalamate Meglumine; Phlebography; Prospective Studies; Subclavian Vein; Thrombosis; Ultrasonography; Venous Insufficiency

Portal thrombosis was diagnosed on computed tomography (CT) in 10 patients and confirmed by sonography. CT demonstrated decreased density of the portal vessels in 9 patients with peripheral arterial concentration of contrast material surrounding the intraluminal thrombus. In 1 patient, a fresh thrombus was seen as an increase in intraluminal density on the pre-contrast scan. The involved vessels were generally enlarged. Three patients had follow-up scans, which revealed a cavernoma in 2 and complete patency of the portal vein and its branches following anticoagulant therapy in 1. In the latter patient, localized abnormal intra-hepatic blood flow suggested infarction of portal origin as the result of clot migration.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Female; Humans; Iothalamate Meglumine; Male; Middle Aged; Portal Vein; Thrombosis; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Ultrasonography

There were incidences of 0.7% severe and 5.5% mild complications in 1,971 direct puncture carotid angiograms done over a 5-year period. In 1,035 retrograde branchial angiograms, there was a 0.6% incidence of severe, and a 4.7% incidence of mild, complications. Complications tended to increase with increasing age of the patient. Brachial angiography is virtually free of life-threatening complications, and the incidence of neurological sequelae was markedly less than that shown by a comparable analysis of catheter angiography. Of patients undergoing 1,542 fractional pneumoencephalograms, 2 had severe complications.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Brachial Artery; Brain Injuries; Bronchial Spasm; Carotid Arteries; Cerebral Angiography; Child; Child, Preschool; Contrast Media; Female; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Injections, Intra-Arterial; Iothalamate Meglumine; Male; Middle Aged; Pneumoencephalography; Respiration Disorders; Thrombosis