Effects of Needle and Catheter Size on Commercially Available Ultrasound Contrast Agents. (18th September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Eisenbrey, John R.; Daecher, Annemarie; Kramer, Michael R.; Forsberg, Flemming
• Is Part Of: Journal of ultrasound in medicine. Volume 34:Number 11(2015)
• Page Start: 1961
• Page End: 1968
• Publication Date: 2015-09-18
• Subjects: catheter size -- Definity -- needle size -- Optison -- Sonazoid -- SonoVue; Ultrasonics in medicine -- Periodicals; Ultrasonics; Ultrasonography; Ultrasonics in medicine; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Periodicals; 616.07543
• DOI: 10.7863/ultra.14.11008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0278-4297

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: To investigate effects of needle and catheter size on in vitro ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) enhancement and concentrations using 4 commercially available UCAs. Methods: Definity (Lantheus Medical Imaging, North Billerica, MA), Optison (GE Healthcare, Princeton, NJ), SonoVue (Bracco SA, Geneva, Switzerland), and Sonazoid (GE Healthcare, Oslo, Norway) were investigated. The UCA was injected via a 1‐mL syringe (BD, Franklin Lakes, NJ) into a 3‐way stopcock (Smith Medical, Dublin, OH) and flushed with 10 mL of saline through an 18‐cm infusion extension tube connected to either a 16‐, 18‐, 20‐, 22‐, or 24‐gauge catheter (BD) or an 18‐, 20‐, 21‐, or 25‐gauge needle (BD). In vitro enhancement was determined in a flow phantom (ATS Laboratories, Bridgeport, CT), and microbubble concentrations were determined using an LSRII flow cytometer (BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA). Results: Significant decreases in enhancement and microbubble concentrations were observed for all 4 UCAs ( P < .001) when administration was performed through a 25‐gauge needle. No statistically significant differences in enhancement or concentrations were observed between all catheter sizes and 18‐ to 21‐gauge needles for SonoVue and Sonazoid. Definity and Optison administration through a 24‐gauge catheter resulted in a significant loss of enhancement (P < .02), although these differences were not significant on flow cytometry. Conclusions: Administration of commercial UCAs in a clinical scenario is possible with catheters or needles smaller than 20 gauge, although the minimal allowable size appears to be UCA specific.