No abstract

Twenty angiographic procedures involving the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) were performed with balloon occlusion catheters in dogs with chronic liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension. The following complications were found: (a) rapid balloon inflation during angiography due to a leak between the two catheter lumens (two cases); (b) failure to deflate a balloon located in the SMA (two cases); (c) balloon detachment intravascularly and during catheter insertion (one case each); and (d) rupture of the SMA (one case). Balloon detachment occurred only with re-used catheters. The safety of angiographic occlusion balloon catheters for general use is questioned. Under no circumstances should catheters be re-used.