Efficacy of systemic heparinization in maintaining patency of the incised and cannulated brachial artery.

Alternate members of a group of 100 cardiac patients subjected to right and left heart catheterization studies and angiography received 5000 units of heparin intravenously prior to arterial cannulation. There was no instance of arterial occlusion among these 50 patients, while in 6 of the control group the incised brachial artery became occluded. No complications of heparinization were observed. It is recommended that, where no contra- indications exist, all patients subjected to brachial artery incision and cannulation receive systemic anticoagulation.