Coronary angiography complications

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

The overall risk of major complications with left heart catheterization is 1-2%. This include death, bleeding, vascular complications, AMI, CVA, and contrast reaction.

Factors increasing patient risk include:

• Age
• Left main or 3 vessel coronary artery disease
• Decompensated heart failure
• Severe aortic stenosis
• Diabetes mellitus
• Renal failure
• Prior CVA