Extremity necrosis caused by indwelling arterial catheters.

Four patients sustained tissue due to indwelling catheters, three of which were in radial arteries and one of which was in the dorsalis pedis artery, In one of the patients, septic thrombosis was demonstrated. The risk of such complications can be minimized by precannulation evaluation of the arterial circulation of the extremity, by proper care of the catheter when in place, and by careful observation for clinical evidence of infection, ischemia, and other treatable problems.