Pump injector system applied to targeted post-mortem coronary artery angiography

Targeted post-mortem computed tomography angiography (PMCTA) is one of several methods described that can be used to investigate the coronary arteries after death. Previously, this particular method has involved the manual injection of contrast media. However, manual systems do not mimic physiological conditions (arterial pressure) and may not provide optimal contrast, as iodinated contrast medium dissipates rapidly from the intra- to the extra-vascular space. To try and overcome these problems, we now report the use of a clinical automatic pump injector for targeted PMCTA. We present our final protocol for this pump system developed from experience of 74 cases, showing how these clinical pumps can be translated from clinical into autopsy practice for the injection of air and positive contrast media to visualise the coronary arteries of cadavers.