To reduce or eliminate the instability of the catheter tip during selective digital subtraction angiography (DSA), and to improve the success rate and display clarity of angiography.

From January 2020 to December 2022, a total of 98 patients with the phenomenon of catheter tip detachment from target blood vessels were selected in the selective cerebral vascular digital subtraction angiography (DSA) procedure at the First Hospital of Nanjing. Samples were collected separately for vertebral artery and common carotid artery angiography based on the diameter of the blood vessels. The samples were then grouped according to different parameters of linear ramping rate and re-angiographed. The stability of the catheter tip using different linear ramping rates, clarity of target blood vessel visualization, and stimulation sensation to patients were compared.

When performing angiography at the openings of the vertebral artery and common carotid artery, the stability of the catheter tip increases with the extension of the linear ramping rate. There was a statistically significant difference between the experimental group and the control group in terms of stability (P = 0.000). The stimulation sensation to patients from the contrast agent decreases with the extension of the linear ramping rate. With a constant total injection volume of the contrast agent, there was a tendency for a decrease in vascular opacification density as the linear ramping rate extends. However, compensating for the corresponding injection volume based on the duration of the linear ramping rate could overcome this decreasing density trend.

By setting a linear rise rate, the stability of the catheter tip during angiography can be maintained, reducing the chances of detachment from the vessel opening and minimizing the stimulation of the vascular endothelium by the contrast agent. This can improve the success rate, clarity, and safety of the angiography procedure.