What is the typical injection rate during an IVC Gram?

During an Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) gram, the typical injection rate is indeed around 15-20 ml/sec. This rate is effective for ensuring adequate visualization of the IVC and its tributaries during contrast-enhanced imaging.

Using this injection rate helps achieve the optimal contrast density needed for accurate diagnosis while minimizing the risk of complications. An appropriate injection rate also enhances the quality of the images obtained, allowing for better assessment of the venous anatomy and any potential pathologies.

Administering the contrast too slowly may lead to inadequate filling of the IVC and surrounding structures, resulting in poor image quality and potentially missing important details that could be critical for diagnosis and treatment planning. Conversely, injecting at a significantly higher rate can increase the risk of complications such as vessel rupture or extravasation and may not yield better imaging results due to overflow or saturation of the imaging system.

Therefore, the range of 15-20 ml/sec is a critical parameter that balances the need for effective imaging while maintaining patient safety during the procedure. This understanding is essential for any practitioner involved in interventional radiology as they perform IVC grams.