Radiology, Vol 187, 783-786, Copyright © 1993 by Radiological Society of North America
Radiologic evaluation of the intravenous oxygenator
PR Shukla, MT Snider, KD Hopper, GA Thieme and JW Meilstrup
College of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University 17033.
This report describes the radiologic appearance of the intravenous
oxygenator (IVOX), an intracorporeal CO2-O2 exchanger for use in patients
with severe respiratory deficiency, and the extensive radiographic and
sonographic support required for its use. Six patients aged 19-39 years who
had severe adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and who were not
expected to survive were selected for IVOX placement; ARDS was caused by
trauma (four patients), severe pneumonia (one patient), or a fat embolus
from a tibial fracture (one patient). Before insertion of the IVOX, all
patients underwent evaluation of their right internal jugular vein, right
common femoral vein, and inferior vena cava with real-time ultrasound (US)
to ascertain vascular size. The IVOX improved oxygenation in all patients;
because of such improvement, one patient survived. Use of the IVOX may
become common; hence, radiologists should understand how the IVOX functions
and its appropriate placement, be able to identify it on chest and
abdominal radiographs, and appreciate the importance of US in placement of
this device and follow-up.
