Safety of contrast dobutamine stress echocardiography: a single center experience

J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2005 Feb;18(2):163-7. doi: 10.1016/j.echo.2004.09.003.

Abstract

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.

Conclusion: The use of contrast during dobutamine stress echocardiography was not associated with an increased risk of side effects.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Albumins / administration & dosage*
  • Albumins / adverse effects
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects
  • Contrast Media / administration & dosage*
  • Contrast Media / adverse effects*
  • Coronary Artery Disease / diagnostic imaging
  • Coronary Artery Disease / physiopathology
  • Echocardiography, Stress* / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Fluorocarbons / administration & dosage*
  • Fluorocarbons / adverse effects
  • France / epidemiology
  • Heart Rate / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / chemically induced
  • Hypertension / epidemiology
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Contraction / drug effects
  • Phospholipids / administration & dosage*
  • Phospholipids / adverse effects
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sulfur Hexafluoride / administration & dosage*
  • Sulfur Hexafluoride / adverse effects
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / chemically induced
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / epidemiology
  • Ventricular Premature Complexes / chemically induced
  • Ventricular Premature Complexes / epidemiology

Substances

  • Albumins
  • Contrast Media
  • FS 069
  • Fluorocarbons
  • Phospholipids
  • contrast agent BR1
  • Sulfur Hexafluoride