Bolus chasing: a new technique in peripheral arteriography.

Recent advances in digital angiographic equipment design have enabled a new technique of peripheral arteriography involving digital bolus chasing to be developed. This technique permits real-time visualization of the contrast bolus so that it can be followed peripherally with digital images being acquired at a suitable frame rate. We give the first description of this technique using the Philips Integris C2000 and compare it to conventional stepped arteriography. Sixty-one patients undergoing peripheral arteriography using the conventional stepped technique were compared with 55 patients using bolus chasing. The parameters assessed were the procedure time, the number of runs and screening time per investigation, the consumables used, the patient and radiologist radiation dose and the image quality. A reduction in the procedure time and the patient and radiologist radiation dose, and improvement in image quality are demonstrated with the bolus chasing technique. Bolus chasing represents an important advance in peripheral arteriography.