Journal article

Acute Retinal Arteriolar Emboli After Cardiac Catheterization

Andreas J Kreis, Thanh Nguyen, Sophie Rogers, Jie Jin Wang, C Alex Harper, David J Clark, HM Omar Farouque, Tien Y Wong

STROKE | LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS | Published : 2008

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There are concerns that cardiac catheterization may cause retinal embolization, a risk marker for cerebrovascular emboli and stroke. We describe the incidence of acute retinal embolism after cardiac catheterization. METHODS: One hundred unselected patients attending a tertiary referral center for diagnostic cardiac catheterization were recruited. Digital retinal photography (optic disc and macular fields) was performed precatheterization and within 3 hours postcatheterization. New retinal emboli were identified by a senior researcher and confirmed by a retinal specialist. RESULTS: There was one case of retinal embolus precatheterization. Two patients (incidence 2.02%;..

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