[Side effects after lumbal myelography. A prospective study of outpatients.].
Since myelography was first introduced, hospitalization has been considered necessary. The incidence of side effects and their severity is considerably less since the introduction of water-soluble contrast media, and today the procedure is carried out on outpatients in many X-ray departments. The aim of this study was to examine the incidence of side effects after lumbal myelography performed at the Radiological Department of Reykjavík City Hospital.



Patients referred for lumbal myelography during a five month period from January to May 1995 were included in the study group. All data were prospectively collected. All procedures were carried out in the same way. The injection was most often between the lumbar vertebrae L3/L4. The same quantity of iodine was used in each case. After the examination, patients were permitted to sit in the waiting room and move about freely, but remained under the supervision of the department for three hours. Patients answered three questionnaires regarding their condition before the examination, after, and again two days later, to obtain a general assessment of the total discomfort and also to see whether they had followed directions.



Ninety nine patients were included in the study. The total response rate was 89-97%. Most patients were given instructions at the end of the procedure and followed those directions. At the end of the procedure totally 44% of the patients had complaints of headache, 23% of nausea and 44% of pain at the injection site. Before the procedure 93% of the patients had complaints of pain in the back, 86% in the thighs and 77% had complaints of pain in the calves. Immediately after the procedure 54%, 71% and 66% had complaints of pain in the back, thighs or calves. Two days days later 75% had complainst of pain in the back. The large majority of the patients, or 83%, viewed the procedure as having caused little discomfort.



The incidence of side effects from lumbal myelography performed at the X-Ray Department of Reykjavík City Hospital is within acceptable limits.
Thorstensen
O
O
Landspitali University Hospital, Fossvogi, 108 Reykjavík, Iceland. ornthors@landspitali.is.
Thorsteinsdóttir
G
G
Benediktsson
H
H