Fluoroscopy of central venous catheters
Author:
Mikael Häggström [notes 1]
Contents
Suspected fibrin sheath
A fibrin sheath of central venous catheter (including PICC-lines and implanted ports) can be suspected when it is possible to infuse into it but not to aspirate.
Choice of modality
Fibrin sheaths are usually detected by fluoroscopic catheter contrast angiography.[1]
A suspicion of a thrombotic occlusion of the vein passed by the catheter indicates a CT angiography.[2]
Preparation
Ability to aspirate from the catheter can optionally be tested.
- Contrast should be non-ionic,[1] with an iodine concentration of at least 270 mg/ml.[2]
- Syringe can be for example 10 ml or 20 ml, for injection by hand.[1] For pumps in ports, the pressure should not exceed >40psi (275kPa or 2,75bar).[2]
- For ports, the needle should be at least 20G (0.9mm), and needs to be designed for port use (to avoid fragmentation of the port membrane).[2] It should be connected by luer taper.[2]
- The system needs to be closed to air at all times.[2]
- The procedure is preferably done in medical gloves, which do not need to be sterile.
The total amount of contrast is rather small (5-15ml) so a decreased renal function does not need to to be a contraindication.[2]
Image taking
Precontrast imaging
- For ports, it should include a lateral projection to confirm that the needle is in proper place before contrast infusion.[2]
Contrast imaging
- A small field-of-view.[1]
- Posteroanterior projection, or slightly oblique to avoid superimposing the spine.[2]
- For ports, a first image is taken when the contrast fills the port chamber and the catheter to exclude malfunction.[2]
- Imaging of the outflow from the catheter is imaged at 10-15[notes 2] images per second.[2]
After the procedure, the system should be flushed with 20 - 30 ml normal saline.[2]
Evaluation
In a normal case, the contrast flows straight out from the catheter.[2] Contrast flowing at a skewed angle compared to the catheter means a suspected fibrin sheath.[2]
A definite fibrin sheath is visualized as contrast flowing backwards around the catheter, looking like a thickening of the distal part, before exiting at a more proximal part of the catheter.
Report
The report should include:
- Position of the catheter tip in relation to the central veins (for example, in the inferior part of the superior vena cava)
- Presence or absence of fibrin sheath. The pattern of the outflow may be described.
Optionally, if tested:
- Ability to aspirate.
- Infused amount of contrast
Notes
- ↑ For a full list of contributors, see article history. Creators of images are attributed at the image description pages, seen by clicking on the images. See Radlines:Authorship for details.
- ↑ A frequency of 2-4 images per second has also been suggested (Knutstad, 2016), which confers a lower radiation dose but makes it more difficult to determine the dynamic flow of contrast.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Knutstad, K.; Hager, B.; Hauser, M. (2016). "Radiologic diagnosis and management of complications related to central venous access ". Acta Radiologica 44 (5): 508–516. doi:. ISSN 0284-1851.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 . Porta-a-cath control. Röntgen Metodbok, Radiology Department of Helsingborg. Retrieved on 2018-07-25.
