INTRAVENOUS CONTRAST-MEDIA - ARE THEY BEING ADMINISTERED SAFELY IN RADIOLOGY DEPARTMENTS

A recent Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) publication is entitled A dvice on The Management of Reactions to Intravenous Contrast Media. Th is study aims to determine whether radiology departments are adhering to the essential points, covered in the guidelines, regarding preventi on, early recognition and prompt treatment of adverse reactions, and w hether they are adequately equipped for the proposed contrast media re action management protocols. A questionnaire was formulated and sent t o the superintendent radiographers of 295 radiology departments in the United Kingdom of whom 233 (79%) replied, This was specifically direc ted at the use of intravenous contrast media in intravenous urography. , In almost all departments there was provision for basic life support training, regular checking of equipment and drugs, and prompt access to emergency medical help. Certain ''first line'' drugs and monitoring equipment were not instantly accessible in the majority of institutio ns. Most departments did not adequately supervise postinjection patien ts and did not conform to the guidelines referring to the administrati on of intravenous contrast to children, Certain areas of the guideline s are being neglected by many radiology departments and there is still much to be done to Improve the safety of intravenous contrast medium injection.