[1000 selective coronary angiographies (method of Sones) (author's transl)]

Complications during and after performance of selective coronary angiography are reported from the first 1000 patients examined in Frankfurt. All examinations were done according to the method of Sones after preparation of the right brachial artery. There was no lethal complication. The following serious complications were observed: infarction 2, oedema of the lung 6, ventricular fibrillation 13, severe bradycardia and temporary cardiac arrest 29, incompatibility of contrast medium 8. Complications concerning the used peripheral artery were very rare. Quantitative measurement of the blood flow in the forearm of patients did not show any decrease in maximal blood flow under exercise after arteriotomy in relation to the flow in the other arm of the patients. In about 98% of all cases the selective angiography of both the right and the left coronary artery was successful. The conclusion is that selective coronary arteriography with the Sones-technic is a reliable way of examining the coronary arteries with a very low complication rate if it is performed by two well trained cardiologists with experience and knowledge about the method and its possible complications.