Digital subtraction angiography in children.

Preliminary results with digital subtraction angiography in infants and children have shown this to be an excellent screening procedure and often diagnostic. The examination can be performed satisfactorily on outpatients. Sixty patients have undergone this examination for evaluation of suspected abnormalities of the aortic arch and its branches, intracranial arteries, pulmonary arteries, abdominal aorta and its branches, and peripheral vessels. Adequate sedation is mandatory to prevent motion artifacts. While the literature reports increasing use of central venous catheters for delivery of contrast material, the use of short catheters placed in an antecubital vein is satisfactory for the pediatric patient. Techniques of the procedures are described along with seven appropriate case examples.