[Complications of selective coronary angiography and the choice of contrast media].

The incidence of side effects of two contrast media containing different amounts of sodium (Urografin 76 and Conray 70) is compared in two groups of patients (totalling 133) under-going diagnostic examination by means of a cardiac catheter and selective angiocardiography. The following results were obtained: 1. Transient ischaemic reactions were observed in 4 patients of the Urografin group. Cerebral circulation was temporarily restricted in 2 patients, but there were no sequelae. One patient with a history of repeated cardiac infarction in whom the examination was the last hope with a view to coronary surgery died immediately after the angiocardiography. 2. In the Conray 70 group, ventricular fibrillation occurred 32 times in 22 patients after a total of 155 injections. Protracted asystole was observed in 2 patients. The explanation offered for the divergent findings from the use of the two contrast media is not the different anions--the iodine hosts--, but rather the difference in the amount of sodium contained in the preparations. It is concluded from the studies that contrast media which deviate to any great extent in their sodium content from the physiological range of the blood sodium concentration are unsuitable for angiocardiography.