The value of counter-current aortography in infants.

Counter-current aortograms were performed on five infants weighing from 1.6 to 2.8 kg. All had symptoms suggestive of congenital heart disease. The images obtained were all of diagnostic quality. In only one, who had anomalous origin of the subclavian artery on the side chosen for the injection, was the diagnosis not made by this technique. No complications directly attributable to the procedure occurred. Counter-current aortography is a safe and effective minimally invasive method of elucidating the anatomy of the aortic arch in young infants.