Pins and needles/burning sensation, nausea and temporary discomfort are possible sensations during CO2<unk> , mainly because the transient ischemia caused by the CO2 bubbles flowing in the bloodstream. CO2 is also neurotoxic, so brain injections should be avoided. The most feared complication for intravascular use is air embolism, which can result in stroke, myocardial infarction, paralysis, amputation, or death, although this risk across all patients is less than 1%. A large amount of CO2 trapped in the pulmonary artery or right side of the heart (only of concern during venography) obstructs venous return resulting in bradycardia and hypotension. The patient should be rotated into a left lateral decubitus position if this happens to attempt to separate the CO2 into a gas layer floating "on top of" and no longer interfering with the flow of the liquid and solid components of blood (vapor lock). Therefore, having a delivery system, which prevents air room diffusion, is a necessary safety measure for the patients.
Carbon dioxide angiography
Intravascular fluorescence
Xenon gas MRI
Thorpe tube flowmeter
Radionuclide angiography
Indocyanine green angiography
Intravascular imaging
Perfusion scanning