You're correct Chris, contrast media is quite viscous. It can be made less viscous by heating to body tempurature, but still, the only way to acheive those high flow rates is to inject under pressure. The pressure required increases as venous access device size decreases or lengthens. 20 gauge PIVs are considered the smallest acceptable PIV for pressure injection. Placement should be in the largest accessible vein. If you pressure inject at 5mL/sec through a 22 gauge PIV the contrast will act as a torpedo - blowing out the vein upstream.
Nancy Costa CRNI
--- Begin Message ---Check the ACR Guidelines-- American College of Radiology. They issue guidelines for things like injecting contrast. CT contrast is very viscous. I believe their recommendations are to use nothing smaller then a 20G PIV for contrast injections. I think their website is www.acr.org
----- Original Message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Thursday, January 12, 2006 3:46 pm Subject: Re: CTs > We are having the same problem now that we have a 62 slice CT
Chris Cavanaugh, CRNI
> scanner. The CT
> hearts and and PE studies are requiring 5cc/second injections. My
> radiologydepartment cannot come up with any references and simply
> stat the rep told them
> it was necessary. Lets hope they come with a better reson than
> that soon. We
> are looking at Power PICCs from Bard and await our Materials
> managementpaperwork to get them in.
> JoseQuoting "Kilbourne, Susan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:
>
> > The CT department at our hospital is trying require that all
> patient's being
> > sent up for tests have nothing smaller than a 20 gauge
> (preferrably) 18 gauge
> > IV cath placed. This is a real problem for some of our patients
> with small
> > fragile veins. Is there any literature to support the size of IV
> needed for
> > contrast or power injectors when given peripherally? I can find
> info on PICCs
> > but none on peripherals.
> > Thanks
> > Sue Kilbourne OCN, CRNI
> > Asante Health Systems
> >
> >
> > NOTE: The information contained in this message may be
> privileged and
> > confidential and protected from disclosure. If the reader of
> this message is
> > not the intended recipient, or an employee or agent responsible for
> > delivering this message to the intended recipient, you are
> hereby notified
> > that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this
> communication is
> > strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in
> error, please
> > notify us immediately by replying to the message and deleting it
> from your
> > computer.
> > E-mail has the potential to have been altered or corrupted due to
> > transmission or conversion. It may not be appropriate to rely
> upon this
> > E-mail in the same manner as hardcopy materials bearing the
> author's original
> > signature or seal. Thank you. Asante® Health System
> >
>
>
>
>
>
--- End Message ---
