What Are the Potential Complications of Angiograms?

While the chances of them occurring are quite rare, there are several complications of angiograms that may affect a patient. Excessive bleeding, infection, and blood clots can occur where the catheter is inserted. The catheter can damage blood vessels or dislodge clots or fat deposits, releasing them into the bloodstream. Patients may have an adverse reaction to the dye used in the procedure, and in some cases an angiogram has been known to cause kidney damage. The heart may also be negatively affected, which can lead to arrhythmia or the buildup of fluid in the sac surrounding it.

One of the complications of angiograms can be a problem with where the catheter is inserted into the body. The opening into the body may be painful, bruised, or become infected. Some patients experience excessive bleeding at the insertion site. Others may have clots form around the catheter where it enters the body. This is a potentially serious complication, as the clots can cause a blockage in the blood vessel, or may break free and travel to the heart or brain, potentially triggering a heart attack or stroke.

Blood vessel damage is another of the possible complications of angiograms. As the catheter is moved through the arteries, it can scrape, tear, or puncture the walls. There is also the potential that fat deposits or existing clots can be dislodged as the catheter moves by, freeing them to travel through the body.

Another of the complications of angiograms that causes problems for some patients is a negative reaction to the dye. Some people may feel warm or flushed when it is injected, while others experience nausea or vomiting. In a small percentage of cases, the patient has an allergic reaction to the dye, which can range from relatively mild to severe and even life-threatening. Another possible problem that can be caused by the dye is kidney damage, particularly in patients with conditions such as diabetes where the kidneys may already be compromised.

Perhaps the most serious of the potential complications of angiograms are issues with the heart itself. Puncturing or tearing a hole in the wall of the heart may occur. The procedure has been known to cause some people to develop an arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, which may or may not resolve on its own. Sometimes, if the heart is damaged by the catheter, a condition called cardiac tamponade may arise, where blood or fluid accumulates in the sac around the heart.