Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Postconditioning with Lactate-enriched Blood for Cardioprotection in ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction
05:26

Postconditioning with Lactate-enriched Blood for Cardioprotection in ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Published on: May 28, 2019

Emergency pretreatment for contrast allergy before direct percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-elevation

C Randall Hubbard1, James C Blankenship, Thomas D Scott

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, PA, USA.

The American Journal of Cardiology
|November 26, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Patients with prior adverse contrast reactions can often undergo emergency cardiac catheterization safely for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Pre-treatment with steroids and antihistamines appears to prevent allergic reactions during the procedure.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Allergy and Immunology

Background:

  • Patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) may have a history of adverse reactions to iodinated contrast media.
  • The safety of emergency cardiac catheterization in these patients using current protocols is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the safety and outcomes of emergency coronary angiography in STEMI patients with a history of previous adverse contrast reactions.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 501 patients undergoing emergency coronary angiography for STEMI between January 2005 and December 2006.
  • Analysis of six patients (1.2%) who reported prior contrast reactions.
  • Assessment of pre-procedure medication protocols including steroids and H1/H2 blockers.

Main Results:

  • Six patients with prior contrast reactions underwent emergency catheterization.
  • All received pre-treatment with intravenous steroids and H1/H2 blockers.
  • No allergic reactions or procedural complications were observed in this subgroup.

Conclusions:

  • Emergency cardiac catheterization may be safely performed in select STEMI patients with a history of contrast reactions.
  • Pre-treatment protocols appear effective in mitigating allergic risks.
  • Further prospective studies are needed to definitively establish safety.

More Related Videos

Percutaneous Contrast Echocardiography-guided Intramyocardial Injection and Cell Delivery in a Large Preclinical Model14:24

Percutaneous Contrast Echocardiography-guided Intramyocardial Injection and Cell Delivery in a Large Preclinical Model

Published on: January 21, 2018

Acetylcholine Re-Challenge After Intracoronary Nitroglycerine Administration07:59

Acetylcholine Re-Challenge After Intracoronary Nitroglycerine Administration

Published on: April 4, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Cardiac Catheterization I: Pre-Procedure Overview01:28

Cardiac Catheterization I: Pre-Procedure Overview

Cardiac catheterization is an invasive diagnostic technique used to identify and evaluate structural and functional diseases of the heart and major blood vessels. This technique diagnoses congenital heart disease, coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, and coronary spasms and assesses ventricular function. It helps guide treatment decisions, including the need for revascularization procedures like percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and...
Cardiac Catheterization IV: Nursing Management01:26

Cardiac Catheterization IV: Nursing Management

Nursing responsibilities before cardiac catheterization include:Assess for allergies and establish baseline health status.Before cardiac catheterization, assess the patient for allergies to contrast dye. Perform a comprehensive baseline assessment, including vital signs, heart and breath sounds, and a neurovascular assessment of the extremities, noting distal pulses, skin color, and temperature. Instruct the patient to fast for 8-12 hours before the procedure. Evaluate baseline laboratory...
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System V: CT01:28

Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System V: CT

Cardiac computed tomography (CT) scanning is an advanced cardiac imaging technique that utilizes CT technology, with or without intravenous (IV) contrast, to produce accurate cross-sectional virtual slices of specific areas of the heart, coronary circulation, and major blood vessels such as the aorta, pulmonary veins, and arteries. The computer processes these slices to generate three-dimensional images. Multidetector CT (MDCT) is a rapid form of CT scanning that captures multiple slices...
Acute Coronary Syndrome IV: Interprofessional Care01:28

Acute Coronary Syndrome IV: Interprofessional Care

IntroductionThe management of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) aims to minimize myocardial damage, preserve myocardial function, and prevent complications.Initial ManagementInpatient management involves continuous cardiac monitoring, preferably in an ICU, focusing on blood pressure, serum sodium, potassium, and creatinine levels, and urine output. Ongoing pharmacologic management is crucial for stabilizing the patient.Supplemental Oxygen: Administer supplemental oxygen if oxygen saturation is...
Acute Coronary Syndrome I: Introduction01:30

Acute Coronary Syndrome I: Introduction

Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) encompasses a spectrum of heart conditions caused by sudden obstruction of coronary arteries, typically resulting from the rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque and subsequent thrombus (blood clot) formation. This obstruction can lead to partial or complete blockage of blood flow, causing varying degrees of myocardial ischemia or infarction.ACS includes the following clinical entities:Unstable Angina (UA)Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI)ST-Elevation...
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System I:Echocardiography01:17

Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System I:Echocardiography

Cardiac imaging studies encompass a wide range of noninvasive and minimally invasive techniques designed to visualize the heart's structure and function in detail. One such technique is echocardiography, which uses high-frequency ultrasound waves to produce detailed images of the heart, known as echocardiograms.
Indications: Echocardiography is utilized to diagnose heart failure, valve disorders, and myocardial infarction. It also assesses cardiac structures' size, shape, and motion, evaluates...