Complications of cardiac catheterisation: a study

Serious complications of radiological examinations are relatively rare but cardiac catheterisation carries an inherent risk factor. The introduction of non-ionic contrast media has reduced the incidence and severity of reactions but the procedure of catheterisation itself is not without problems. A study has been made of patients undergoing routine, non-urgent cardiac angiography and coronary arteriography to assess the incidence of untoward effects related to the procedure and the contrast media. A comparison may be made between a conventional contrast medium and two new, low-osmolar contrast media.