Use of a power injector during dynamic computed tomography

We instituted the use of a power injector during dynamic body CT to improve control of the rate of contrast injection, to make it unnecessary for a technologist to remain in the gantry room during scanning, and to make it possible for one technologist to simultaneously perform the injection and operate the scanner. We analyzed the first 240 cases using the power injector for quality of contrast enhancement and frequency of complications, including contrast material extravasation into soft tissues. Ninety-seven percent of the studies had enhancement judged good, very good, or excellent. A technologist remained in the gantry room during some portion of the examination in only 11% of the studies. Minor contrast material extravasation occurred in two cases and major extravasation in one case, a frequency of 1.3%. None of these resulted in long-term morbidity.