title: Improved visualization of aortopulmonary collateral arteries by abdominal aortic compression during angiography.
abstract: Increased filling of aortopulmonary collateral arteries occurs when the descending aorta is obstructed distal to their origin. We used this fact to develop a simple, safe technique for improving angiographic visualization of these arteries. The abdominal aorta is manually compressed against the spine during injection of contrast medium. A slight reflex bradycardia resulted, which probably also enhanced filling of the collateral arteries. In eight infants and children with either pulmonary atresia and a ventricular septal defect or truncus arteriosus communis, excellent visualization was consistently achieved without complication.
mesh_terms: D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal; D003097:Collateral Circulation; D006345:Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation; D011664:Pulmonary Valve / Q000002:abnormalities*