Which of the following is a possible fatal outcome during a cardiac catheterization?

Which of the following is a possible fatal outcome during a cardiac catheterization?

• A. Death
• B. Complete immunity to contrast
• C. Permanent weight loss
• D. Chronic fatigue without cause

Answer: (A)

During a cardiac catheterization, serious complications can arise, and death is a possible, though extremely rare, outcome. These fatal risks come from events such as perforation of a heart chamber or blood vessel with bleeding and tamponade, major access-site bleeding, life-threatening arrhythmias or a myocardial infarction from vessel injury, stroke from emboli, or severe reactions to anesthesia or contrast. In contemporary practice, the overall mortality risk for a diagnostic catheterization is very low, but it increases with interventional procedures or in patients with significant comorbidities. The other options describe nonfatal or unrelated effects and do not reflect the real danger associated with the procedure.

During a cardiac catheterization, serious complications can arise, and death is a possible, though extremely rare, outcome. These fatal risks come from events such as perforation of a heart chamber or blood vessel with bleeding and tamponade, major access-site bleeding, life-threatening arrhythmias or a myocardial infarction from vessel injury, stroke from emboli, or severe reactions to anesthesia or contrast. In contemporary practice, the overall mortality risk for a diagnostic catheterization is very low, but it increases with interventional procedures or in patients with significant comorbidities. The other options describe nonfatal or unrelated effects and do not reflect the real danger associated with the procedure.