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Why was the MRI done?
Patient had right leg pain after a cardiac catheterization. The arterial puncture was closed with a percutaneous closure device that sutures the small arterial hole.
How was the MRI done?
Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) was performed after the rapid intravenous injection of gadolinium contrast using a special peripheral vascular coil and parallel imaging technique (SENSE). Both legs were imaged in 26 seconds.
What did the MRI show?
There is a severe stenosis of the proximal right superficial femoral artery. The distal arteries are normal.
How did the MRI impact patient management?
The two major working diagnoses for the patient's leg pain were peripheral emboli and a complication of the percutaneous closure device. MRI showed the severe stenosis at the site of arterial puncture for cardiac catheterization, thus confirming arterial injury by the closure device (both walls were sewn together). In addition, MRI ruled out peripheral emboli by showing normal distal arteries. A simple surgical procedure fixed the stenosis.
