Before the introduction to radiopaque contrast media (ROCM), patients’ health and medical history should be evaluated. The first method to assess the patient’s health is a questionnaire about chronic diseases, allergies, intolerance to iodine, renal dysfunction, current health condition, and other questions that may help to prevent any complications (Jensen & Peppers, 2013, p. 92). Since the injections of intravascular ROCM may have serious adverse effects, such as pain, dysrhythmias, anaphylaxis, and even death, screening of the patient’s current renal function status is of high importance (Jensen & Peppers, 2013, pp. 91-92). The role of a physician is to examine a patient and their medical history and discover whether the patient is taking drugs incompatible with ROCM.
Screening patients before administering ROCM is important because of the hazard of contrast toxicity and its outcomes. According to Kaller and An (2020), those patients who had acute kidney injuries and received ROCM were at high risk of renal failure. Those with pulmonary diseases, allergies, and heart diseases suffered from strong physiologic reactions, such as bronchospasm, arrhythmia, “depressed myocardial contractility,” and other adverse reactions (Kaller & An, 2020, pp. 7-8). Drug-drug interactions may also lead to serious complications, like, for an example, problems with blood coagulation. Therefore, the intravenous catheter should be flushed with physiologic saline before administering incompatible medications. In conclusion, a thorough examination of a patient’s health before the introduction of ROCM will help to prevent or minimize complications and adverse effects of contrast media.
References
Jensen, S. C., & Peppers, M. P. (2013). Pharmacology and drug administration for imaging technologists (2nd ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier.
Kaller, M. O., & An, J. (2020). Contrast agent toxicity. In StatPearls. Web.