CO2 SPRAY MINI-INJECTOR FOR DIGITAL SUBTRACTION ANGIOGRAPHY VERSUS PC-CONTROLLED INJECTION SYSTEM - EXPERIMENTS IN DOGS

A personal computer (PC)-controlled CO2 injector (consisting of a pneu matic unit, electric/electronic system, and calculator) and a spray mi ni-injector (consisting of a CO2 spray can and a dosage chamber) were used in 10 dogs to determine their efficacy regarding imaging quality and case of handling. CO2 was injected into the abdominal aorta, renal artery, and femoral artery. The vessel diameter was determined on eac h CO2 arteriogram and compared with that determined on a reference art eriogram obtained using an iodinated contrast agent. The filling ratio (CO2/iodine) was calculated for each set of injection parameters. Bot h injection systems provided good visualization (filling ratio >0.9) o f large and small arteries within a range of injection parameters. In terms of practicality, the spray mini-injector is more appealing, beca use it is easier to handle and does not require any preparation.