Course of the post-catheterization pulseless arm.

With the purpose of determining the course of the non-operated post-catheterization brachial artery thrombosis, 45 patients in this condition were followed during a one month period of survey. A gradual increase in Doppler-derived pressure index of the ischemic arm was observed. This index averaged 0.51 on the day of occlusion, increased to an average of 0.66 in the immediate following day and on the 30th day averaged 0.82. All but 10 patients were asymptomatic after 30 days, although a similar increase in pressure index was observed among these patients, being thus indistinguishable from the whole group. Since it was not possible to predict in which patients symptoms of arm ischemia would remain present, it seems advisable to consider surgical restoration of flow in all cases of brachial artery thrombosis after cardiac catheterization.