Complications in Translumbar Aortography

The technique described by SELDINGER (1953) for transfemoral aortic catheterisation is now generally the method of choice for aortography. Narrowing or occlusion of the iliac arteries associated with vascular disease of the pelvis and lower extremities may however sometimes make the transfemoral approach difficult, hazardous or even impossible. Translumbar puncture of the aorta appears sometimes to be used as a routine in arteriosclerosis; it is also employed when the transfemoral route is not possible to use. A modification of translumbar aortography with a teflon catheter needle combination was introduced by AMPLATZ (1963). The direct puncture technique (with injection of contrast medium through a metal needle) was used in our department until 1966 when it was superseded by the teflon catheter method. This communication consists of an analysis of the complications of the total number of translumbar aortographies performed up to 1971.