The Choice of Contrast Media in the Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory

Contrast media (CM) in cardiology is used in vessel visualisation, stenosis identification, localisation and identification of vessel ramifications and cardiovascular malformations. The identification of a CM that has the optimum visual properties and a safe profile was investigated in this study, along with other significant parameters. Quantitative assessment in choosing appropriate CM was investigated in the following properties: concentration, osmolality and viscosity, presence of ethylene-diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), cardiac tolerability, nephrotoxicity, delayed adverse reactions, thyrotoxicity, and cytotoxicity. Comparisons of possible candidates of CM include: iopamidol, iobitridol, iodixanol, iopromide, iohexol and ioversol, under study of the aforementioned parameters.