Angiography of the femoral artery following percutaneous catheterization in infants and children.

Iliac and femoral arteries previously exposed to percutaneous catheterization were examined by angiography in conjunction with re-catheterization in 44 infants and children, most of them with heart disease. Frequency and extension of thrombotic changes were analysed, as well as the relationship between occurrence of thrombotic complications and age, haematocrit value, catheterization time, and tendency to arterial spasm. Only age and arterial spasm were significant for the occurrence of thrombotic complications. Injury of the intima was considered to be the primary cause of these complications.