[Contrast medium concentration for intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography of vessels in the extremities]

The influence of iodine concentrations and different volumes of a conventional ionic contrast media and a contrast media with low osmolarity on the quality of the results of intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography of the lower extremities in patients who underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (n = 52) are reported. According to our results, intra-arterial injections of a conventional ionic contrast medium diluted with 0.9% sodium chloride solution, resulting in an iodine concentration of 190 mg/ml injectable solution, reveals the best results when injected in an amount of 6 ml per injection. The use of low-osmolarity contrast-medium showed no advantages, the quality of the resulting pictures was inferior to that revealed with the ionic compound. Probably this is because the iodine concentration in the diluted low-osmolarity compound was less.