Safety of contrast dobutamine stress echocardiography: a single center experience.
BACKGROUND
Contrast is increasingly being used during dobutamine stress echocardiography. However, there are few data regarding the safety of this combination.


METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed 751 consecutive stress echocardiograms, 332 without contrast and 419 with contrast (299 with Sonouve, 120 with Optison). Reported side effects and physiologic data were then compared.


RESULTS
There were no fatalities. The incidence of side effects was similar in the 3 groups. The Optison group had a lower diastolic blood pressure compared with the noncontrast group ( P < .05) at rest, and the Sonovue group had a higher peak heart rate compared with the noncontrast group ( P < .001). Patients receiving Optison had more premature atrial contractions ( P < .05) but there was no difference in the incidence of ventricular tachycardia, supraventricular tachycardia, or vagally mediated episodes.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of contrast during dobutamine stress echocardiography was not associated with an increased risk of side effects.
Timperley
Jonathan
J
Department of Cardiology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, UK. jon.timperley@orh.nhs.uk
Mitchell
Andrew R J
AR
Thibault
Helene
H
Mirza
Intisar H
IH
Becher
Harald
H
D000368:Aged; D000418:Albumins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D025401:Echocardiography, Stress / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D018879:Ventricular Premature Complexes / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology
D000418:Albumins; D003287:Contrast Media; C099458:FS 069; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D010743:Phospholipids; C420843:contrast agent BR1; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride