© 2014 DAR Publishers / The University of Jordan. All Rights Reserved. Vascular complications following cardiac catheterization at Jordan University Hospital Hanna K. Al-Makhamreh, 1 * Nabeel Alqsous, 2 Zaid Ammari, 2 Khalil Husari, 2 Sarah Nimri, 2 Lina Ya’aqoub, 2 Yazan Batarseh, 3 Abedallatif Alsharif, 4 Faisal Khatib, 5 Akram Saleh, 1 Basem Bustami, 1 Tarek Goussous, 1 Moaath Alsmady 6 Abstract Objective: This study evaluates the rate of vascular complications following diagnostic cardiac catheterization and percutaneous intervention (PCI) at Jordan University Hospital. Methods: We reviewed the records of 1000 consecutive patients who underwent cardiac catheterization or PCI. Vascular complications including: minor hematoma > 5 cm in diameter, pseudoaneurysm, arteriovenous fistula and major bleeding with a hemoglobin drop ≥3 gm/dl or bleeding requiring transfusion, limb ischemia and death related to the vascular complication. In addition, clinical variables associated with increased risk of vascular complications were recorded including age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, congestive heart failure, indication for the procedure, emergency vs. elective, and diagnostic catheterization vs. PCI. Results: 1000 consecutive cases (746 catheterization, and 256 PCI) that were performed in the period from January 1st to Aug 25th 2011 were evaluated. There were six (0.6%) complications: one major (bleeding; requiring blood transfusion) and five minor (3 hematomas and 2 pseudoaneurysms) . A higher vascular complication rate was recorded in certain groups, PCI versus diagnostic catheterization (1.9% vs. 0.1%, P=0.005), emergency versus elective procedures (6.8% vs. 0.3% P= 0.001), and myocardial infarction versus angina (4.3% vs. 0.2%, P= 0.002). None of the clinical variables studied in this series had an association with increased risk for vascular complications. Conclusion: Vascular complications rate following cardiac catheterization and PCI was comparable to other published series, suggesting that manual compression with proper monitoring by doctors and nurses continues to be a safe procedure. PCI, emergency procedures, and myocardial infarction carried a significantly higher vascular complication rate Keywords: pseudoaneurysm, cardiac catheterization, vascular complications, hematoma, Jordan, Hospital of University of Jordan. (J Med J 2014; Vol. 48 (4):243- 249) Received Accepted Nov. 25, 2013 Sept. 10, 2014 1. Division of Cardiology, Dept. of Medicine, Jordan University Hospital, Amman, Jordan; 2. Faculty of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan 3. Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan 4. Dept of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Jordan University Hospital, Amman, Jordan 5. Dept of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan; 6. Division of cardiothoracic surgery, Dept of Surgery, Jordan University Hospital, Amman, Jordan. * Correspondence should be addressed to: E Hanna K Al-Makhamreh, MD, FACC Amman 11942 Jordan, Fax: +9626 5353388, Tel: +9626 5353666 Email: h.makhamreh@ju.edu.jo