Radiologists who had access to a visual aid were more confident when managing contrast media reactions than those without, according to recent research. The aids also correlated to faster epinephrine administration.
Patients receiving IV contrasts can have a variety of reactions, including life-threatening anaphylaxis. These occurrences are admittedly rare, wrote authors of the American Journal of Roentgenology study, but that’s what makes them dangerous.
“Contrast media reactions are infrequent, and, as a result, radiologists' comfort level with managing these reactions is low,” wrote James B. Gardner and colleagues with Yale-New Haven Hospital in Connecticut.
Researchers divided 138 attending radiologists and trainees into 21 sessions as part of a simulated contrast medium reaction program. Eleven groups received a visual aid, 10 groups did not.
Of the total group, 97.8 percent said the visual aid poster provided would help administer medication, and 87 percent believed it would help lower time to administer that medication.
Those thoughts were confirmed with results showing errors in management occurred in 18 percent of groups with a visual aid compared to a 40 percent error rate in those without.
Overall, authors found epinephrine self-administration accounted for the most errors in the study aside from visual aid use. Researchers suggested continued education is needed for these devices.
Additionally, Gardner and colleagues found groups that were provided with visual flowcharts administered epinephrine faster than those without an aid. Groups using a visual aid achieved a mean 25-second administration time that was faster than those groups without.
“Although the difference did not achieve statistical significance, it may be clinically significant in management of anaphylactic contrast media reactions for which prompt administration of epinephrine is key in proper management,” authors wrote. “This tendency toward quicker epinephrine administration was accentuated when removing all groups that had an error in management.”
Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.