SAFETY OF NONIONIC AGENTS IN VISCERAL ANGIOGRAPHY

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES. To compare the safety of ionic and nonionic contrast agents in visceral angiography. METHODS. Beginning in 1989, a prospective, open trial was begun, and 1,890 patients who have underg one contrast injection were enrolled. Patients considered to be high r isk were graded according to Palmer and received nonionic contrast med ia, while all other patients received ionic contrast media. RESULTS. B ecause of the small number of visceral angiography procedures performe d (38), no definitive conclusions could be drawn as to the differences between ionic and nonionic agents regarding grade-2 and grade-3 adver se events. However, a difference in grade-1 events was apparent in fav or of nonionic agents.CONCLUSIONS. More than 10 years ago, the Departm ent of Radiology staff at Aker Hospital began using iohexol, first in infants, then in children, pregnant women, patients undergoing leg phl ebography, and patients with serious, previously documented reactions from contrast media. Currently, the department staff administers nonio nic agents exclusively for coronary angiography and other cardiac proc edures in approximately 300 patients per year. Today, use of nonionic contrast media is the standard for almost all procedures requiring int ra-arterial or intravenous application.