Coronary artery injection technique: A quantitative in vivo investigation using modern catheters

• Published in: Catheterization and cardiovascular diagnosis 1998-05, Vol.44 (1), p.34-39
• Main Authors: Dodge Jr, J. Theodore, Nykiel, Martha, Altmann, Jane, Hobkirk, Kathy, Brennan, Mary, Gibson, C. Michael
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: angiography; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary - instrumentation; Biological and medical sciences; cardiac catheterization; Cardiac Catheterization - instrumentation; Cardiovascular system; Cineangiography - instrumentation; Contrast Media - administration & dosage; Coronary Angiography - instrumentation; Coronary Artery Bypass; Coronary Disease - diagnostic imaging; Coronary Disease - therapy; Equipment Design; Graft Occlusion, Vascular - diagnostic imaging; Graft Occlusion, Vascular - therapy; heart; human; Humans; Injections, Intra-Arterial - instrumentation; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); manual injections; Medical sciences; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Recurrence; Reference Values; Sensitivity and Specificity
• ISSN: 0098-6569; 1097-0304
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0304(199805)44:1<34::AID-CCD9>3.0.CO;2-8

To date, there have been no quantitative in vivo assessments of contrast volumes and injection rates using modern high flow catheters during coronary angiography. Contrast volumes (n = 554), injection durations (n = 563), and injection rates (n = 498) were collected during 88 cardiac catheterizations. With increasing cathetersize (6, 7, and 8 French), injection volume increased (P < 0.0001), duration decreased (P < 0.0001), and rate increased (P < 0.0001). Compared with injections into the right coronary artery, left coronary artery injections were larger (7.1 ± 0.1 cc vs. 4.8 ± 0.1 cc, p < 0.0001), longer (3.6 ± 0.05 sec vs 3.0 ± 0.07 sec, P < 0.0001) and faster (2.1 ± 0.04 cc/sec vs. 1.7 ± 0.06 cc/sec, P < 0.0001). Patients with a significant stenosis in the left main or proximal right coronary artery received less contrast (P < 0.0001) more slowly (P < 0.0001) over a similar duration of injection (P = NS). When collaterals arose from the injected artery, angiographers injected more contrast (P < 0.001) over a longer period (P < 0.0001) more slowly (P < 0.0001). Catheter size and the injected vessel's location and anatomy significantly affect coronary catheterization injection technique. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Diagn. 44:34‐39, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.