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Emergencies in the radiology department
Contrast-induced emergencies
Contrast media
Contrast media are the substances used to enhance the image of internal anatomical structures during imaging investigations. Contrast media are used in radiological procedures such as X-ray, CT scan, MRI, and ultrasound.
Barium sulfate, water-soluble iodinated contrast, gadolinium-based contrast media and air as negative contrast media are some examples of types of contrast media. Iodinated contrast media are the main cause of the contrast-induced emergency, excreted by the kidney exclusively.
Type of reactions caused by contrast media– There are three types of reactions caused by contrast media:
Mild reactions
Moderate reactions
Severe reactions
Adverse reactions
The adverse reactions are further classified into two groups:
The acute adverse reactions occur within a few hours of the contrast administration
The cause of allergy-like reactions is the release of histamine from mast cells and basophils.
The majority of the acute adverse reactions are mild.
The delayed adverse reactions may occur from 1 hour to 1 week of injection. In most of the cases, skin and subcutaneous tissue are affected.
Emergency drugs used in radiology
There are a lot of procedures are performed in the radiology department. Whenever there is sudden onset of any allergic reaction, after administration of contrast into patient’s body crash cart rushed for management.
The crash cart is the emergency trolley that contains life-saving emergency drugs and other equipment. The crash cart used in emergencies cases for the management of the crucial events.
The emergency drugs include:
