Table of Contents
What should you do if there is an extravasation of contrast media?
Treatment and prognosis
- discontinue the contrast infusion and notify the radiologist immediately.
- complete the acquisition of images of the CT series.
- attempted aspiration of the extravasation has not been shown to be effective.
- apply an ice pack to the affected area and elevate the affected extremity to reduce swelling.
What is contrast media extravasation?
Contrast media extravasation (CMEV) refers to the leakage of intravenously-administered contrast media from the normal intravascular compartment into surrounding soft tissues; it is a well-known complication of contrast-enhanced CT.
How common is extravasation?
The annual incidence of extravasation injury is only 0.1% to 0.7%, and it is 4.7-6.5% in the chemotherapy patient population and ranges from 11% to 58% in children.
Is contrast media a vesicant?
A vesicant is an agent that has the potential to cause blistering or tissue necrosis. Radiologic contrast media are considered to be vesicant solutions.
What is chemotherapy extravasation?
Extravasation is the process by which any liquid (fluid or drug) accidentally leaks into the surrounding tissue. In terms of cancer therapy, extravasation refers to the inadvertent infiltration of chemotherapy into the subcutaneous or subdermal tissues surrounding the intravenous or intra-arterial administration site.
What can extravasation lead to?
Extravasation occurs when a vesicant drug leaks out of the vein and into the surrounding tissue. When this happens, a person will likely experience serious tissue damage, including ulceration and tissue death, if they do not receive treatment in time.
What is active extravasation?
Active extravasation refers to administered contrast agent that has escaped from injured arteries, veins, bowel, or urinary tract.
Contrast media extravasation. Contrast media extravasation (CMEV) refers to the leakage of contrast media from the normal intravascular compartment into surrounding soft tissues; It is a well-known complication of contrast-enhanced CT scanning. It can also occur in MRI studies, but the complications are rare given the low volume that is used.
What are the medications used in contrast media administration?
contrast media extravasation contrast allergy iodide mumps vicarious contrast material excretion agents iofendylate (Pantopaque/Myodil) Lipiodil meglumine iotroxate (Biliscopin) Abrodil CT IV contrast media administration
What caused extravasation of contrast in a 50 year old patient?
A case report is presented in which significant extravasation of contrast was caused while injecting the contrast intravenously into the back of the hand of a 50 year old patient during computed tomography. The patient was undergoing chemotherapy. The patient developed a compartment syndrome and a fasciotomy was required.
What is the prognosis of contrast extravasation?
A large study found that >97% of patients with contrast extravasation had minimal or no injury and reported that 79% of patients had localised swelling after extravasation, 24% had pain, and 8% were asymptomatic 4.