Experience with mechanical contrast medium injection at selective coronary angiography.

This is a report of our experiences with the automatic contrast medium injector at selective coronary angiography during 836 examinations, and the quantitative evaluation of 193 single injections. Using average injection volumes per single injection of 5.0 ml for the left and 2.5 ml for the right coronary artery, a clear reduction of the quantity of contrast medium at constant definition can be registered. The variability in increase in the injection flow from 0 up to the peakflow appears to be important according to the anatomic and pathologic facts. Frequently a contrast medium reflux occurs out of the coronary ostium into the aorta. On the whole, automatic injection at selective coronary angiography is a reproducible and extensible method with few risks.