Cardiovascular responses to injection of contrast medium into proximal aorta.

Abstract

The cardiovascular changes which follow the intravascular injection of a contrast medium are indicative of its toxicity (4). Those that occur after intracardiac injection of contrast material, both experimentally (2, 6, 15) and clinically (3, 6), have been well documented. Information is lacking, however, concerning these responses when angiographic medium is injected directly into the proximal aorta. Two major differences exist between the two technics, which may be responsible for significant variations in the reactions produced by each. First, in proximal aortography, there is direct perfusion of the myocardium, via the coronary arteries, by relatively undiluted contrast medium. Second, in this technic, since there is normally no passage of the contrast medium through the cardiac chambers or the pulmonary circulation, there can be no direct action on these structures. The value of thoracic aortography as a diagnostic means is now well established (1). The increasing use of this procedure makes it manda...