Minireviews
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2017. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Radiol. Sep 28, 2017; 9(9): 339-349
Published online Sep 28, 2017. doi: 10.4329/wjr.v9.i9.339
Radiographic and magnetic resonances contrast agents: Essentials and tips for safe practices
Mohamed R Nouh, Mohamed A El-Shazly
Mohamed R Nouh, Department of Radiology and Clinical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21563, Egypt
Mohamed A El-Shazly, Department of Radiology and Clinical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11651, Egypt
Author contributions: Nouh MR and El-Shazly MA had been having the idea of the manuscript; both authors had been equally reviewed the literature, drafted the manuscript and critically revised it; both authors approved the manuscript in its current final form.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Correspondence to: Mohamed R Nouh, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology and Clinical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, 1 Kolyat El-Teb Street, Mahata El-Ramel, Alexandria 21563, Egypt. mohamed.nouh@alexmed.edu.eg
Telephone: +20-11-16590365 Fax: +20-3-4869754
Received: January 24, 2017
Peer-review started: February 2, 2017
First decision: May 11, 2017
Revised: June 14, 2017
Accepted: June 19, 2017
Article in press: June 20, 2017
Published online: September 28, 2017
Processing time: 261 Days and 8.2 Hours
Abstract

With extended and continued expansion of medical imaging utilization in modern medical practice over last decade, radiologists as well as other faculty staff dealing with radiographic and magnetic resonances contrast media (CM) have to be well oriented with their potential hypersensitivity reactions and recognize high-risk groups liable to develop it and enable early recognition. Radiologists and other medical staff involved in administration and dealing with CM have to be ready to implement prompt, practical and effective management plan to deal with these scenarios should they emerge. Strategies to prevent potential contrast-induced acute and delayed renal injuries have to be routinely exercised. Paying attention to the pregnant and nursing women, pediatrics, diabetics, as well as other fragile populations is of utmost importance for patient safety during contrast administrations. Radiologists should play a pivotal role in orienting patients about necessity to use CM for their imaging studies, in case it is needed, and assure them about its safety. Moreover, they have to be oriented with the medico-legal issues related to use of CM. These will pay as improved patient safety as well as safe daily working environmentat different levels of radiology practices.

Keywords: Radiographic; Magnetic resonances; Contrast; Safe practice; Medico-legal

Core tip: Radiologists have to be oriented with the potential hypersensitivity reactions of radiographic and magnetic resonances contrast media (CM) and able to recognize high-risk groups liable to develop such reactions. Effective management plans have to be ready to implement should these scenarios emerge. Strategies to prevent potential contrast-induced acute and delayed renal injuries have to be exercised. Caring for special considerations as well as other fragile populations is of utmost importance for patients’ safety. Moreover, radiologists should be oriented with the medico-legal issues related to use of CM. These will be conveyed as improved patients’ safety and safe radiology practices.