title: Study of patients with intravenous contrast extravasation on CT studies, with radiology staff and ward staff cannulations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intravenous (IV) contrast extravasation is an adverse outcome of computed tomography (CT) studies. This study evaluates for any differences in rates of extravasation between radiology (radiographer) staff and ward medical staff cannulations, and secondarily by cannula size and study type.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study of 26,854 studies in adults between September 2004 and April 2008 accumulated 119 extravasations. Patients were divided into two groups, those cannulated by radiology staff and those cannulated by non-radiology staff. Patients with extravasations were followed for treatment outcomes. Statistical analysis between our groups was undertaken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total extravasation rate was 0.44%. The extravasation rate for those patients cannulated by radiology staff was 0.34% (n= 11,470 cannulations) and those cannulated by non-radiology staff was 0.52% (n = 15,384 cannulations). This was not statistically significantly different. The site where most extravasations occurred was at the elbow (71.4%). The injection rate where most extravasations occurred was in the 1-2 mL/s range (42%). No patient required surgical intervention or had any significant morbidity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radiology radiographer staff can provide safe administration of IV contrast in CT scanning with low rates of extravasation. Extravasation may occur with high or low injection rates and when small or large size cannulas are used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Centre for Biomedical Imaging Research and Development, Westmead Hospital, Cnr Hawkesbury and Darcy Roads, Westmead, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia.
authors.forename: Roger J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Kingston
authors.forename: Noel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Doungkamol Poppy
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Sindhusake
authors.forename: Minh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Truong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002404:Catheterization; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005119:Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007472:Iohexol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D007472:Iohexol; C038192:iopromide