Figure 6.

Computed tomography scans for identification of catheter tip position (body weight of 30 kg). Diameters of blood vessels are 10.88 × 9.33 mm (aorta), 6.6 × 9.3 mm (common iliac vein), and 13.6 × 8.86 mm (inferior caval vein at the level of the dual-lumen catheter tip). The upper image shows a three-dimensional reconstruction of the pig from a mixed arteriovenous, contrast-enhanced scan. With respect to all three catheters, the tip was close to the vessel wall. Contrast-enhanced image of the pelvis in the bone window (window 2,500, center 500 Hounsfield units [HU]) to visualize the catheter in contrast-filled aorta. In this pig, the dual-lumen catheter was inserted into the arterial system in order to determine whether the tip position of the dual-lumen catheter at the intima depends on flow dynamics and vessel wall characteristics. The lower image shows an enhanced image of the pelvis in the bone window (window 2500, center 500 HU) to visualize the catheters in contrast-filled vessels. In this animal, curved reconstruction was performed for the alternative catheter (Alt. Cath.). Orange line shows the vessel entry point. The catheters are visualized lying in the right and left iliac arteries and the right iliac vein. Interestingly, the dual-lumen catheter again was visualized at the lateral wall of the blood vessel.