Pressure-assisted micturating cystourethrography: reduction in duration of procedure and fluoroscopy time.
BACKGROUND
Micturating cystourethrography (MCU) can be a prolonged and uncomfortable examination when contrast medium is instilled by gravity through a narrow-bore catheter. Some radiologists increase the filling rate by injecting contrast medium using syringes, but this is cumbersome. In our hospital, one radiologist routinely injects air into the bottle of contrast medium to speed flow.


OBJECTIVE
To assess whether pressure-assisted flow of contrast medium shortens examination times compared with gravity feed.


METHODS
A prospective study of MCU in 142 children aged 0.04-13.3 years, of which 41 procedures were assisted by air injected into the bottle of contrast medium to maintain a steady stream of contrast medium and 101 were gravity fed. The time from starting contrast medium infusion to the end of the procedure, fluoroscopy time and dose-area product were recorded. A 6-Fr catheter was used in all examinations.


RESULTS
The mean duration of the examination was reduced from 9.1 to 3.4 min ( P<0.0001), the mean fluoroscopy time was reduced from 1.5 to 1.0 min ( P<0.0002) and the mean dose-area product was reduced from 27.4 to 17 cGy.cm(2).
Wilkinson
A Graham
AG
Department of Radiology, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Sciennes Road, Edinburgh EH11 9LF, UK. Graham.Wilkinson2@btinternet.com
McCafferty
Gillian
G
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003974:Diatrizoate Meglumine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011312:Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D014521:Urethra / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014567:Urography / Q000379:methods*
D003287:Contrast Media; D003974:Diatrizoate Meglumine