PURPOSE:

Are implanted central venous port catheters suitable for contrast media pressure (power) injection in computed tomography?

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

In an in vitro study 100 ml of contrast medium (Ultravist 370, Schering, Berlin, Deutschland) was injected through 20 different port catheter systems using a power injector (Stellant, Medrad, Inianola, USA) with a pressure limit of 325 PSI. The injection rate was increased from 2 ml/s to 10 ml/s in increments of 2 ml/s. The maximum injection pressure and maximum injection rate were assessed.

RESULTS:

An injection rate of 2 ml/s was possible in all catheter systems. Injection rates of 4 ml/s in 18 systems, 6 ml/s in 13 systems and 8 ml/s in 6 systems were achieved. With a given pressure limit of 325 PSI an injection rate of 10 ml/s was not possible in any of the port catheter systems. There were no catheter ruptures, catheter disconnections or contrast extravasations noted.

CONCLUSION:

Power injection of contrast media with a pressure limit of 325 PSI seems to be tolerated by port catheter systems. Most of the evaluated port systems allow flow rates suitable for multislice computed tomography requiring rapid contrast injection.