A T Young

Retrieving the Amplatz retrievable vena cava filter.

The new Amplatz retrievable filter was placed 15 times into the inferior vena cava (IVC) of 7 dogs. Retrieval of the filter was attempted in 11 cases after 1 week and in 3 cases after 2 weeks. The retrieval was successful and without complication in all 14 cases. The 15th placement resulted in thrombotic occlusion of the IVC, and no retrieval was attempted.

Limited usefulness of carbon dioxide as a contrast agent for cholangiography.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) was unsuccessfully used as a biliary contrast agent in 9 of 10 patients undergoing percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography prior to biliary drainage. The technique involved hand injection of 10–20 cc CO2 through the Chiba needle in an attempt to fill preferentially the anterior biliary radicals. Although CO2 remains a useful agent in many instances, paricularly for percutaneous nephrostomy, its usefulness in the biliary tract is severely limited.

Personnel Exposure In Interventional Radiology

The personnel radiation exposure which is possible in interventional radiology is much greater than that in other areas of diagnostic radiology. Following a review of recent film badge records for personnel involved in interventional radiology at our institution, we have examined various methods to reduce head and neck exposures during interventional procedures. Calculations and measurements demonstrate that with even a modest workload ancillary shielding materials are necessary in order to maintain head exposures within regulatory limits. This report presents a newly developed shielding method (surface shield) for use during interventional radiology procedures. The surface shield is inexpensive and reduces head and neck exposure by up to 75% without compromising patient access or radiologist convenience. Due to the special demands of interventional radiology, periodic review of procedures and radiation protection principles with the personnel involved is important in keeping personnel exposure as low as reasonably achievable.