Pediatric angiocardiography with iohexol.

A nonionic contrast medium (iohexol) was evaluated for safety and efficacy in pediatric angiocardiography in this study of 15 patients, age 6 to 82 months. Patients carried a preliminary diagnosis of congenital heart disease. Subjects were injected with iohexol, 350 mg iodine/ml of solution with an average volume of 2.46 ml/kg of body weight at a rate of 9 to 14.5 ml/sec. The parameters evaluated included vital signs, intravascular BP, ECG changes, discomfort, and adverse reactions. No adverse reactions were noted in 14 of 15 patients. No significant changes in axillary temperature of ECG were observed. Intravascular blood pressure showed only moderate changes. After 24 hours, creatine phosphokinase (CPK) plasma concentrations increased significantly. Serum electrolytes remained unchanged. Image quality was deemed excellent considering variations in injection site and flow condition of the heart. Iohexol caused remarkably little discomfort and no adverse effects.