Hematoma formation after diagnostic angiography: effect of catheter size.

The authors studied the effect of catheter size on the development of hematomas after catheterization. Four hundred ninety-nine patients who underwent routine diagnostic angiography were randomized to receive either 5-F or 7-F catheters. Small hematomas were more frequent in the 7-F catheter group (P less than .05); however, there was no difference in the frequency of larger hematomas between groups. Compression time was slightly but significantly (P less than .001) longer in the 7-F group. When catheter size; duration of the procedure; and patient age, weight, blood pressure and coagulation status were considered as independent variables, patient weight was the most accurate predictor of hematoma formation. The authors conclude that catheter size does not affect the development of a clinically significant hematoma after diagnostic angiography and that other factors such as patient weight are more important in this regard.