Adrenal Vein Sampling

Access

• Right common femoral vein
• Place 6 or 7-Fr sheath

Primary Aldosteronism

• Typically cannulate/sample right followed by left adrenal vein, plus peripheral vein
• Peripheral venous sample: Obtain from access sheath or infrarenal IVC
• Submit samples for aldosterone and cortisol assays
• Appropriate cortisol level confirms correct catheter position within adrenal vein
• Consider stimulating with cosyntropin, institution-specific protocol

Adrenal Vein Sampling Cushing Syndrome

• Typically cannulate/sample right followed by left adrenal vein, plus IVC above adrenal glands, and IVC below renal veins
• Cosyntropin stimulation is not necessary
• Submit samples for cortisol assays
• When obtaining venous samples, note time obtained and label all tubes with attention to right vs. left.
• Collect samples in appropriate containers for laboratory analysis; conform to lab requirements for accurate sample analysis (e.g., refrigerated sample).

Right Adrenal Vein

• Right adrenal vein is short (1-15 mm) and located superior and posterior to renal vein:
• Use reverse-curve catheter (SIM 1, VAN) to selectively catheterize right adrenal vein
• Adrenal vein typically arrayed in classic Δ form
• Superficial spider-like veins can be present
• Distinguish adrenal vein vs. accessory hepatic vein
• If adrenal vein drains into accessory hepatic vein, catheter tip should be advanced through hepatic accessory vein into adrenal vein

Left Adrenal Vein

• Use Cobra 2 or Simmons 1 or 2 catheter to cannulate left adrenal vein; may require coaxial microcatheter
• Position catheter tip beyond left inferior phrenic vein confluence but before adrenal tributaries

Adrenal Vein Characteristics

• Triangle-/Δ-shaped angiographic blush
• Central vein communicating with smaller veins in stellate/spiculated pattern
• Communicating retroperitoneal collaterals
• Confirm catheter position, gently inject 1 to 3 mL contrast
• Patient may experience back pain during contrast injection into adrenal vein, particularly on right

Aspirate from Adrenal Glands

• Slow, intermittent aspiration
• Ideally obtain 5 to 8 mL samples (discuss with laboratory at your institution)
• If aspirate flows readily, catheter likely disengaged from adrenal vein
• Punching small hole into catheter tip helps prevent vein collapse as sample is aspirated
• Record time and location (right vs. left) of aspiration on each vial
• Adrenal veins are small, weak, and prone to rupture; avoid forceful contrast injections
• Usually tenuous selective catheter positions in adrenal veins; avoid excessive catheter movement when obtaining samples to prevent dislodgement

Potential Intraprocedural Issues

• Most common difficulty is failure to cannulate right adrenal vein, due to challenging anatomy
• Selective catheterization of hepatic caudate lobe venous drainage often mistaken for right adrenal vein