Effect of epinephrine on celiac and superior mesenteric angiography.

Abstract

The effect of epinephrine on celiac and superior mesenteric angiography has been studied in 65 patients. Evaluation has been made of changes in arterial detail, transit time of contrast material, capillary accumulation, venous opacification and of the diagnostic usefulness of the drug in the various lesions encountered. Epinephrine caused the most marked constriction and increase in transit time in the splenic artery. An actual decrease in transit time of the contrast material was seen in the bowel arteries. The pancreatic vessels were not constricted, except in the presence of chronic pancreatitis. The duodenal arteries also showed increased filling following the drug. In general, capillary accumulation was diminished except in the duodenum, and veins were not seen as well except in the superior mesenteric distribution. In general, primary and secondary tumors were demonstrated better after epinephrine if they were vascular and if the contrast material reached the vascular bed of the tumor. Carcinomas of the stomach were not seen as well because of marked constriction of the gastric vessels. Inflammatory lesions showed increased constriction following the drug, with the exception of lesions of the duodenum. Collateral vessels were not affected by the drug. The usefulness of this technique for physiologic investigations is discussed.