When should a test bolus be used?
There may be local preferences, but in general, a test bolus is used in the following circumstances:
- • The aorta is diseased by atherosclerosis, or there is aortic dissection. In both situations, the ROI may inadvertently be placed in a segment of the aorta which does not opacify following contrast administration as much as it should.
- • The patient has a depressed ejection fraction (typically a left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 20%).
- • The volume of administered contrast material is reduced because of renal impairment.
