Factors modifying contrast media induced fibrillation.

Factors effecting contrast media induced ventricular fibrillation were studied in anesthetized dogs using contact time as the measured parameter. Injections of meglumine/sodium diatrizoate (370 mg I/ml) were made into the right coronary artery at 0.4 ml/s until fibrillation occurred. A contrast medium containing calcium chelators was found to produce fibrillation in a significantly shorter contact time than a similar medium without calcium chelators. Pre-treatment by the cardiac glycoside, ouabain, increased the contact time for fibrillation as did the production of a sub-acute infarction in the left coronary artery and a previous fibrillation and resuscitation. The data suggest that calcium binding additives increase the risk of fibrillation while pre-treatment with cardiac glycosides, the presence of stable infarcts in the non-injected areas, or a previous fibrillation and resuscitation do not increase risk.