Bedside carbon dioxide cavagrams for inferior vena cava filters: Preliminary results

Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of us ing carbon dioxide (CO2) as a contrast agent in performing bedside inferior vena cavagrams before the insertion of vena cava filters. There was a cons ecutive series of patients undergoing bedside preinsertion cavagrams with i nferior vena cava alter insertion. The setting was an 825-bed tertiary care hospital. The subjects were trauma patients undergoing inferior vena cava alter insertion. Methods: The intervention used was vena cavagrams with CO2 as the contrast agent. The main outcomes we measured were image quality, adverse reactions, cardiorespiratory changes, and renal failure. Results: Ten patients underwent CO2 cavography. All cavagrams were successf ul, demonstrating opacification of the inferior vena cava with identificati on of the renal veins and iliac bifurcation. There were no adverse reaction s of renal failure. Conclusions: Carbon dioxide-contrasted vena cavagrams can be safely perform ed at the bedside, and they give good opacification of the inferior vena ca va.