Novel connecting tube for saline chaser in contrast-enhanced CT: the effect of spiral flow of saline on contrast enhancement

Abstract

• Optimal administration of intravenous contrast material is essential for optimal CT quality. • A new connecting tube can generate spiral flow, which improves intravenous administration. • The new connecting tube improved aortic contrast enhancement during the hepatic-arterial phase. • The new connecting tube increased the effect of a saline chaser.

Spiral Flow Fube for Contrast Medium Reduction in Coronary CT Angiography

“…A phantom study by Kidoh et al [4] resulted that the spiral flow tube would increase the peak enhancement by 20% than the T-shaped tube. In vivo studies showed that the enhancement of abdominal aorta during hepatic arterial phase [4], arteries of lower extremities [5] and coronary arteries [6] increased by 30 to 50 HU using the spiral flow tube. However, the increase in the enhancement was attenuated during portal venous phase [4].…”

“…In vivo studies showed that the enhancement of abdominal aorta during hepatic arterial phase [4], arteries of lower extremities [5] and coronary arteries [6] increased by 30 to 50 HU using the spiral flow tube. However, the increase in the enhancement was attenuated during portal venous phase [4]. These results suggest that small amount of contrast medium might remain in the subclavian vein even when saline flush is performed using the T-shaped tube and the spiral flow tube might push the residual contrast medium into the central venous system.…”

“…Spiral flow is generated at the chamber-shaped connecting site, hence saline solution would push the contrast medium more effectively than the conventional T-shaped tube [4][5][6]. Previous studies showed that the spiral flow tube significantly increased the arterial enhancement of abdominal aorta [4], aorta of the lower extremities [5] and coronary arteries [6] than the T-shaped tube. However, it is not clear whether the spiral flow tube could maintain the arterial enhancement and diagnostic performance with reduced contrast medium injection.…”

Spiral Flow Tube for Saline Flush in Coronary CT Angiography: Initial Experience

“…Although this conventional tube could effectively push the contrast medium into the central venous system, some proportion of contrast medium could remain in the tube or the subclavian vein due to the laminar flow generated by the T-shaped joint ( Figure 1a) [5] . Several studies have shown that a spiral flow could push the contrast medium more effectively than a laminar flow [6,7] .…”

“…This is why contrast medium is injected at a high flow rate followed by a saline chaser to flush the excessive contrast medium in the right ventricular system [2][3][4][5] .…”