CT-control of the H-graft interposition mesocaval shunt patency.

A method for assessing the patency of the H-graft interposition mesocaval shunts by computerized tomography is described. Five patients with such shunts were examined with a 5.5 second CT scanner. After locating the graft a 50 cc bolus of 76% diatrizoate was injected into a cubital vein and 3-4 scans were executed at a preselected level. A distinct vessel like enhancement appeared if the shunt was open. With dynamic CT-scanning the flow can be demonstrated in graphical form as time-density curves.