CORONARY ARTERIOGRAPHY.

The rapid injection of opaque media through a large bore, closed-end, side-hole catheter positioned adjacent to the sinuses of Valsalva reliably opacifies the coronary arteries. The potential toxicity of a rapidly introduced large volume of contrast agent and the necessity of peripheral arteriotomy are drawbacks of this procedure. Such innovations as loop-ended catheters, balloon occlusion of the aorta, percutaneous arterial catheterization and acetylcholine cardiac arrest have been introduced as attempts are made to increase the reliability and safety of coronary arteriography.