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In 102 patients transcutaneous right brachial artery catheterizations were performed. The sequelae of the brachial artery lesion were investigated 22.43 +/- 22.26 months after catheterization, and data obtained by bilateral Doppler ultrasound technique, oscillography, and strain gauge plethysmography were compared. In ten patients minor obstructions of peripheral blood flow were noted. One patients suffered from longer-lasting ischemic symptoms, which were successfully treated with drugs. In another case an embolectomy had to be performed with an almost complete relief of the obstruction. In our view, the transcutaneous approach may be preferred to the dissection of the artery because the procedure is followed by a low incidence of sequelae for the patient and saves time for the investigator. The rate of obstruction to peripheral flow in our study was lower, in comparison to controls than after dissection of the brachial artery as reported in the literature.

In 203 patients with clinical symptoms of coronary artery disease, cardiac and extracardiac side effects of the dipyridamole test were investigated. Following dipyridamole (0.75 mg/kg body wt. i.v.), heart rate increased significantly, whereas arterial blood pressure remained almost constant. Dyspnea was noted in 80 cases (40.5%). In 48 patients (23.6%) rhythm disturbances were recorded; 58.1% suffered from extracardiac side effects such as congestion in the head, vertigo, heaviness of arms and legs, sensations of heat, upper abdominal pain, and nausea. A detailed report is given of 4 cases with extraordinary symptoms during or after the injection of dipyridamole. A life-threatening status anginosus with dyspnea, ST-segment elevation, and cardiac arrhythmia was observed in one of these cases. High-dose dipyridamole cannot be considered to be harmless. The test should not be performed without continuous ECG monitoring and other safety measures.