Thromboembolic phenomena in clinical angiography: role of materials and technique

Interactions between blood and iodinated contrast agents and syringes and catheters are discussed with regard to clot formation and thromboembolic phenomena in angiography. Syringe and catheter materials are, to varying extents, contact activators of coagulation, whereas contrast agents inhibit coagulation and platelet aggregation. Current understanding of these phenomena is surveyed, and the implications for clinical angiographic technique are discussed.