[Clinical impact of the Bezold-Jarisch reflex in coronary arteriography].

To evaluate the role that coronary arteriography has in the induction of the Bezold-Jarisch reflex we study 9 patients (group I) to whom 1 mg. of atropine was administered 45 min. before the coronary arteriography and 9 patients (group II) without pre-medication. The heart rate was measured before, during and after each intracoronary injection. In group I there was no change in heart rate in 6 patients, in 3 cases the heart rate dropped to 15 beats/min. In group II the heart rate decreased in 8 cases. We conclude that the injection of radiologic contrast material in the coronary arteries triggers the Bezold-Jarisch reflex and that this reflex is prevented by the administration of atropine.