Atrial pacing during selective coronary angiography.

Abstract

The min. which follows selective injection of radiocon-trast medium into the coronary circulation is 1 of high risk of major arrhythmias because of a combination of phenomena, several of which are directly due to the bradycardia which follows injection. The latter effects can be abolished by pacing the heart throughout this period, and the risk of arrhythmia thus appreciably reduced. A pacing was adopted as a routine practice during selective coronary angiography. For several reasons, the right atrium was employed rather than the right ventricle as the pacing site.