Evidence against the widespread use of angiography of noncoronary arteries during coronary artery angiography and cardiac catheterization.

Purpose: Although the most widely used screening techniques for extracardiac atherosclerotic distributions are noninvasive, in patients undergoing coronary arteriography, the question as to whether angiography of extracardiac arteries at the time of cardiac catheterization is really effective or if it should be considered malpractice is still open. We sought to determine the safety and real usefulness of angiography of extracardiac arteries performed by trained invasive cardiologists during cardiac catheterization.

Methods: Medical records of all patients undergoing combined coronary and noncoronary angiography between May 1998 and December 2002 were retrospectively reviewed.