Extensive Upper-extremity Venous Thrombosis After Fluorescein Angiography

• Published in: American journal of ophthalmology Vol. 139; no. 5; pp. 928 - 930
• Main Authors: Cheng, Jacob Y.C., Yap, Eng-Yiat, Chao, Alexandre K.H., Eong, Kah-Guan Au
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01-05-2005; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Anticoagulants; Arm - blood supply; Axillary Vein; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; Catheterization, Central Venous - adverse effects; Diseases of the peripheral vessels. Diseases of the vena cava. Miscellaneous; Fluorescein Angiography - adverse effects; Heart attacks; Humans; Male; Medical imaging; Medical sciences; Medical treatment; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; Veins & arteries; Venous Thrombosis - diagnostic imaging; Venous Thrombosis - etiology; Vascular disease; Angiography; Fluorescein; Cardiovascular disease; Venous thrombosis; Ophthalmology; Upper extremity; Venous disease
• ISSN: 0002-9394; 1879-1891
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2004.10.058

To report a case of extensive cephalic and basilic venous thrombosis after fluorescein angiography.
Interventional case report.
A 38-year-old Chinese male presented with blurring of vision in his left eye. Clinical examination revealed central serous retinopathy, and a routine fluorescein angiography was performed.
He developed inflammation over the right arm over 4 days. Duplex scan disclosed extensive superficial venous thrombosis of the right upper limb with occlusion of the basilic vein and cephalic vein in the proximal right upper arm to the level of the midarm. He was treated medically but was subsequently lost to follow-up.
Extensive upper-extremity venous thrombosis is infrequent after single-shot intravenous cannulation. Venous thrombosis occurring after fluorescein angiography has not been reported up to this time. It is possible that proper arm positioning during the procedure may reduce this risk, and ophthalmologists should be vigilant of this potentially unusual complication.