Abstract
Right atrial power injections of contrast have been performed in over 150 patients as an alternative injection site for digital subtraction angiography. There have been no significant complications. Right atrial injections appear to increase the relative X-ray attenuation in the anatomic area of interest when compared with injections into the superior vena cava. The atrial injection reduces the incidence of certain types of technical problems, such as reflux into the jugular vein, during carotid studies. The right atrial injection site proves to be quite safe, although transient cardiac arrhythmias can occur, but the incidence is no greater than that observed during superior vena cava injections or that reported during peripheral injections of contrast. No change was noted in the electrocardiogram of any of 20 patients as a consequence of right atrial studies. One potential serious risk, extravasation of contrast, can easily be avoided by utilizing a pigtail catheter.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 533-536 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Annales de Radiologie |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| State | Published - 1983 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging