Carbon Dioxide in Vascular Imaging and Intervention

Aortocaval fistula: diagnosis with carbon dioxide angiography

“…Small catheters can be used because of the very low viscosity of the gas [11]. Animal studies have shown that injection of up to 8 cc/kg body weight of carbon dioxide does not cause significant gas embolism or significant change in renal function [11,12]. Carbon dioxide also does not possess an osmotic effect, thereby causing no change in intravascular volume and is excreted through the lungs.…”

Interventional cardiovascular techniques in small animal practice—diagnostic angiography and balloon valvuloplasty

“…Use of CO 2 for diagnostic angiography-Carbon dioxide has been widely used as a safe alternative to iodinated contrast agents in human medicine 46,47 but is rarely used in veterinary practice. A prerequisite for CO 2 angiography is the use of a digital subtraction angiography system that can provide optimal image quality with high-contrast resolution.…”

Arteriography in Chronic Renal Failure: A Case for Carbon Dioxide

“…The gas used in the procedure is non-toxic, non-allergenic and less expensive when compared with standard contrast. Additionally, carbon dioxide has a very low viscosity [9], which allows the use of smaller catheters, which may potentially reduce/ the risk of haematoma formation, and also facilitate arteriovenous flow without occlusion of the capillary bed [10]. The gas is also readily absorbable, rapidly combining with the buffers in the blood for transport to the lungs, where it is efficiently excreted [9], such that large intravascular injections cause no abnormalities of arterial pH, pC0 2 and p02 [11].…”