What is carbon dioxide angiography? Cardiology Basics

What is carbon dioxide angiography? Cardiology Basics Carbon dioxide angiography is done using carbon dioxide injection into the blood vessel. Usually iodine containing radiocontrast dyes  are injected into the blood vessels and continuous X-ray imaging done, to obtain angiograms. Contrast material is needed to visualize the blood vessel separately from the other body tissue. But usual iodinated radiocontrast dyes have a potential risk of causing acute kidney injury. This is more so in those with already impaired renal function. It is in this situation that carbon dioxide angiography is usually considered. Usual angiograms appear dark while carbon dioxide angiogram looks grey because of the lower density of carbon dioxide compared to tissue. Conventional angiogram is shown beside the CO2 angiogram for comparison of opacification. Please note that the angiograms are not in the same projection. The better contrast with conventional angiogram is obvious. While conventional angiograms look like positive images, carbon dioxide angiograms look like negative images. Earlier those with renal issues were considered for magnetic resonance angiography which was also called dyeless angiography. This is because blood vessels can be visualized in MRI with the contrast obtained from moving hydrogen nuclei in water, an important constituent of blood. But for better visualization, gadolinium-based contrasts are often used in magnetic resonance angiography. Gadolinium based contrasts have...
Source: Cardiophile MD - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs