Post mortem CT angiography in fetuses or newborn: Very affordable pump and catheter solution

This technical note describes a pump and catheter setup that is geared towards performing post mortem computed tomography angiography (PMCTA) examinations in fetal humans. With a voltage controlled very affordable immersion pump and a modified butterfly injection needle, relatively stable linear voltage flow rate relationships can be obtained across flow rates in the range of 30 to 150 ml/min. Flow rates are calculated and compared with actual measurements, whereas practical results suggest a degree of turbulence within the setup used. Practical testing with a fetal pig results in excellent vascular filling. This was subject to considerable partial volume effect, however, so using a micro computed tomography scanner for better quality scans of PMCTA for fetal humans is highly recommended.