Incidence of fibrillation with isotonic contrast media for intra-arterial coronary digital subtraction angiography.

Intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography (DSA) can produce coronary artery opacification with isotonic contrast media. In this study we have examined the importance of electrolyte composition in isotonic formulations on the incidence of fibrillation. Right coronary injections of media were made for 25 s in anesthetized dogs. Isotonic meglumine diatrizoate and iohexol produced fibrillation in more than 68% of the injections, while sodium diatrizoate, saline, meglumine/sodium ioxaglate and iohexol with added sodium diatrizoate never produced fibrillation. These animal studies demonstrate a significantly higher risk of fibrillation (p less than 0.005) with isotonic nonionic and ionic media not containing sodium ions.