Percutaneous catheterization of the femoral vessels in children. I. Influence on arterial peak flow and venous emptying rate in the calves.

The influence of percutaneous catheterization of the femoral vessels on the arterial peak flow (APF) and the venous emptying rate (VER) of the calves was studied with strain gauge plethysmography in 112 children 2-16 years of age, who underwent arterial (49 cases) or venous catheterization, mostly because of heart disease. The conditions on the catheterized side were compared with those on the other side, and the pre-catheterization values were compared with those obtained after completed catheterization. The catheterization procedure was proved to have no general influence on APF or VER, although it may have an effect in individual patients. APF was not affected at arterial or venous catheterization in children older than 8 years of age. In the younger children, APF was slightly decreased on the catheterized side after arterial as well as venous catheterization. This was considered to be caused by arterial spasm. On the following day APF was normal. A few patients in this age group had a marked reduction in APF caused by intense spasm or thrombotic occlusion after arterial catheterization. These patients will be accounted for separately. VER on the catheterized side was not significantly influenced after venous or arterial catheterization, irrespective of the age of the patients.