Journal of ultrasound in medicine : official journal of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
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Comparative Study
Comparative study of 18 gauge and 20 gauge intravenous catheters during transcranial Doppler ultrasonography with saline solution contrast.
A formal technical protocol has not been established for transcranial Doppler ultrasonography in the detection of venous to arterial shunts; techniques have been adapted from contrast echocardiography. We evaluated the effect of different diameter indwelling intravenous catheters on the detection of right-to-left shunts by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography. ⋯ The larger bore intravenous catheter delivered a greater number of signals in a shorter time to the insonated middle cerebral artery. We recommend that a standardized method for transcranial Doppler sonographic contrast studies include an 18 gauge intravenous catheter.