Invasive cardiovascular procedures offer many patients substantialdiagnostic and therapeutic benefits. Vascular angioplasty, electrophysiologicalablation procedures, and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemicshunt procedures are among the important therapeutic proceduresthat provide potentially superior alternatives to conventionalopen operations. In addition, invasive cardiovascular proceduresprovide diagnostic information that cannot be obtained by noninvasivemethods. The diagnostic and therapeutic value of these procedureshas fueled a broad-based and successful effort to improve theirsafety and efficacy.
The hazards associated with invasive cardiovascular proceduresinclude vascular injury, systemic embolization, contrast-agent–inducednephropathy, and radiation-induced injury. Although substantialprogress has been made, severe life-threatening and fatal . . . [Full Text of this Article]
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From the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia.
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