Contrast-enhanced CT with saline flush technique using two automated injectors: how much contrast medium does it save?
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this work was to investigate the volume of contrast medium saved by the saline flush technique.


METHODS
Thoracic helical CT was performed by injecting 75 ml of contrast material (Ioversol 320) only (n = 25; Group A) or 75 ml of contrast medium pushed with 6 ml (n = 25; Group B), 12 ml (n = 25; Group C), 25 ml (n = 25; Group D), or 50 ml (n = 25; Group E) of saline at a rate of 2 ml/s. The aortic CT numbers were measured from 30 to 55 s after the beginning of injection. We compared the time to peak aortic enhancement (TPAE) among Groups A-E.


RESULTS
The TPAEs of the Groups A-E were 42.6, 45.2, 48.6, 48.4, and 48.3 s, respectively, and there was a statistically significant difference among them (p < 0.0001, analysis of variance). Post hoc test revealed statistically significant differences in TPAE between Groups A and B, C, D, and E and between Groups B and C, D, and E but no differences among Groups C, D, and E.


CONCLUSIONS
The saline flush technique prolongs TPAE by 6 s and saves 12 ml of contrast medium.
Irie
Toshiyuki
T
Department of Radiology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Kajitani
Motonao
M
Yamaguchi
Masayuki
M
Itai
Yuji
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology; D001331:Automation; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003363:Cost Control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
D003287:Contrast Media; D012965:Sodium Chloride