This chapter includes a synthesis of data regarding cardiovascular-related
lesions induced by medical drugs or radiotherapy, and also relates to the specific
injuries that can be caused by diagnostic and/or therapeutic interventions. The effects
of chemotherapeutics and non-chemotherapeutic drugs on the myocardium are
analyzed in detail, with a focus on anthracycline-induced cardiovascular effects in
children. Some of the disorders are illustrated using representative pictures taken
during autopsies. Although a common technique, insertion of prosthetic grafts can lead
to complications, such as thrombosis, aberrant neointimal hyperplasia or dehiscence.
Percutaneous vascular intervention complications can be related to the catheter or to
the intervention itself. The differences between in-stent restenosis and postoperative
thrombosis are also presented. The final part of this chapter is dedicated to open heart
surgical intervention complications.
Keywords: Adverse drug reaction, Anthracyclines, Arrhythmia, Cardiovascular,
Hypersensitive cardiomyopathy, Hypovolemia, Myocarditis, Neointimal
hyperplasia, Open heart surgery, Percutaneous intervention, Prosthetic graft,
Stenosis, Stent, Torsade de pointes, Vasculitis.
