Some aspects of contralateral compression in carotid angiography.

The effect of compression of the noninjected carotid artery at carotid angiography was studied; compression above the bifurcation was compared to compression below the bifurcation. The timing of the compression in relation to the contrast injection was varied. In 12 patients an increased contrast dose was used. Retrograde contrast filling of the noninjected carotid was better when compression was applied below the biturcation. With increased contrast dose and prolonged injection time, visualization of the noninjected carotid artery was further improved, as was contrast filling of the noninjected hemisphere.