Fig 1.
The common carotid artery after cutting the skin and subcutaneous tissues.
Fig 2.
Intravenous catheter placed into the common carotid artery.
Fig 3.
Air administration using a flexible plastic tubing and a 120 ml syringe.
Fig 4.
CT reconstruction in parasagittal plane before intra-arterial air inflation; lung window.
Air visible only in the cervical and thoracic part of the esophagus and intestines.
Fig 5.
CT reconstruction in parasagittal plane after intra-arterial air inflation; lung window.
Air-filled blood vessels and heart chambers visible.
Fig 6.
CT reconstruction in transverse plane at the level of the 12th thoracic vertebra after intra-arterial air inflation; lung window.
Air-filled blood vessels visible, among others aorta, vena cava, portal vein, splenic veins, hepatic veins.
Fig 7.
CT reconstruction in transverse plane at the level of the 3rd thoracic vertebra after intra-arterial air inflation; lung window.
Air-filled blood vessels and heart chambers visible. Furthermore, subcutaneous emphysema in the region of withers and left pneumothorax due to air efflux from the vessels.
Fig 8.
CT reconstruction in parasagittal plane after intra-arterial air inflation; lung window.
Air-filled blood vessels and heart chambers visible. Furthermore, subcutaneous emphysema in the region of withers and neck, pneumothorax and extraperitoneal emphysema due to air efflux from the vessels.
Fig 9.
CT reconstruction in transverse plane at the level of the 12th thoracic vertebra after intra-arterial air inflation in volume 60ml/kg; lung window.
Air-filled aorta is visible. Poorly air-filled liver and spleen veins. Complete lack of air-filling of the caudal vena cava and portal vein.
Table 1.
Descriptive statistics of paired blood vessels measurements (in mm) compared between sides using paired Student’s t-test with the Bonferroni correction of p-value (α = 0.05).
↑ indicates significant difference.
Table 2.
Descriptive statistics of unpaired blood vessels measurements (in mm).