Contrast Management Takes Center Stage
Adverse events stemming from contrast injection have emerged as a patient safety issue. As radiology departments replace manifold contrast injectors with automated models, they are establishing protocols to lessen the incidence of contrast-associated adverse events and improve the bottom line.
Most physicians agree on two methods for reducing risk. "Limiting the dye-load and adequate hydration are the only two things that have been consistently shown to reduce the risk of developing contrast-induced nephropathy," says Jason T. Call, MD, Winchester Cardiology & Vascular Medicine, in Winchester, Va.
Call's opinion is backed by various studies assessing the relationship between contrast and adverse events. Contrast volume was shown to be a key risk factor for contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), Jeremiah R. Brown, PhD, MS, of Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice, Dartmouth Medical School, and section of cardiology at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, and colleagues found.
The incremental use of contrast beyond the maximum allowable contrast dose (MACD)—defined as 5 ml x body weight [kg]/baseline serum creatinine—is associated with greater risk of adverse events. In their analysis of nearly 10,000 patients prospectively enrolled from 2000 to 2008, the researchers found that 20 percent of patient procedures exceeded the MACD.
"Patients exceeding the MACD threshold were more likely to be in shock, have two or three vessel disease and left main stenosis, and more stents," Brown wrote. "Patients receiving contrast volumes in excess of the MACD were more likely to have CI-AKI, new onset of dialysis dependent renal failure, cardiac events, bleeding complications, receive transfusions and have a longer length of stay after PCI. Importantly, their mortality rates also were higher during PCI admissions."
Certain patient characteristics indicate greater risk for contrast-induced nephropathy, Call notes. Baseline kidney function and diabetes are the two top variables, he says. If a patient has one, risk for CIN may increase to 3 to 5 percent, however if he or she has both variables, the risk that the kidneys will be transiently harmed rises to 10 to 15 percent.
The ACR notes additional patient risk factors—allergies, asthma, cardiac status, as well as anxiety—and it recommends three primary considerations for physicians: the assessment of patient risk versus potential benefit of the study, imaging alternatives that would provide the same or comparable information and assurance of a valid clinical indication for each contrast medium administration.
Providers should weigh risks against benefits, says Hani Abujudeh, MD, MBA, department of radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. In some situations, the benefits outweigh the risks associated with the administration of contrast. However, if an alternative diagnostic method can produce the desired information in a high-risk patient, it may provide a better alternative.
Nevertheless, the potential for kidney damage may be a small price to pay for life-saving information. "If contrast administration results in a diagnosis of a life-threatening condition, then it outweighs the risk of contrast nephropathy," Abujudeh says.
In their meta-analysis of six studies, the researchers found that the use of automated contrast injection significantly reduced the volume of contrast delivered to a patient, but there was a lack of evidence regarding the risk of CIN.
"Only one trial reported on the patient outcomes of acute kidney injury. There's a lack of evidence—especially from trials where patients had been randomized through an automated injector or not—on acute kidney injury. Since CI-AKI has been established as a clinical endpoint, all trials evaluating the use of automated contrast injectors should report on the number of patients developing this condition; that way we can move forward towards improved translation of evidence-based medicine and heighten patient safety," Brown says.
The use of an automated contrast injection system in conjunction with contemporary strategies of hydration during diagnostic catheterization and PCI was associated with a significant reduction in the use of contrast volume, as well as in the incidence of CIN, according to Call and colleagues, who studied the incidence of CIN in 1,798 patients after diagnostic catheterization or PCI using handheld manifold injection systems, and in 377 subsequent patients using an automated system.
Pre-procedural hydration was used routinely, and N-acetylcysteine and bicarbonate infusion—which has been shown to reduce the incidence of CI-AKI—were used on an ad-hoc basis. Results indicated that the incidence of CIN was 19.3 percent using a manifold injector, and 13.3 percent after using an automated contrast system.
"There are clearly risk factors for [CIN], and there are a variety of ways to try to reduce it, some of which are proven, some of which are logical but not as well-proven," Call says. "Being cognizant that [CIN is] a problem and doing your best to minimize the volume of contrast during a procedure, make modifications during the case if necessary, while paying attention to adequate hydration status are the most important things."
Contrast is useful because it helps in the diagnosis of various diseases and conditions. Injecting less contrast saves money. But it's not as simple an equation as less contrast equals less cost, Abujudeh notes. More important is implementing procedures aimed at screening patients, identifying those at risk, managing those at risk differently and short- and long-term follow-up of patients. "Those procedures come at a cost, and are hard to put a number on, however, preventing adverse outcomes, reduction of CIN and other contrast-related adverse events, have societal savings," Abujudeh sums.
Patient Safety
The risks associated with contrast are well-documented, and among the major notable concerns is contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). CIN is an "extremely low risk" for patients with normal renal function, according to the American College of Radiology (ACR), but for older patients—and those with diabetes or other conditions—the potential for harm is greater.Most physicians agree on two methods for reducing risk. "Limiting the dye-load and adequate hydration are the only two things that have been consistently shown to reduce the risk of developing contrast-induced nephropathy," says Jason T. Call, MD, Winchester Cardiology & Vascular Medicine, in Winchester, Va.
Call's opinion is backed by various studies assessing the relationship between contrast and adverse events. Contrast volume was shown to be a key risk factor for contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), Jeremiah R. Brown, PhD, MS, of Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice, Dartmouth Medical School, and section of cardiology at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, and colleagues found.
The incremental use of contrast beyond the maximum allowable contrast dose (MACD)—defined as 5 ml x body weight [kg]/baseline serum creatinine—is associated with greater risk of adverse events. In their analysis of nearly 10,000 patients prospectively enrolled from 2000 to 2008, the researchers found that 20 percent of patient procedures exceeded the MACD.
"Patients exceeding the MACD threshold were more likely to be in shock, have two or three vessel disease and left main stenosis, and more stents," Brown wrote. "Patients receiving contrast volumes in excess of the MACD were more likely to have CI-AKI, new onset of dialysis dependent renal failure, cardiac events, bleeding complications, receive transfusions and have a longer length of stay after PCI. Importantly, their mortality rates also were higher during PCI admissions."
Certain patient characteristics indicate greater risk for contrast-induced nephropathy, Call notes. Baseline kidney function and diabetes are the two top variables, he says. If a patient has one, risk for CIN may increase to 3 to 5 percent, however if he or she has both variables, the risk that the kidneys will be transiently harmed rises to 10 to 15 percent.
The ACR notes additional patient risk factors—allergies, asthma, cardiac status, as well as anxiety—and it recommends three primary considerations for physicians: the assessment of patient risk versus potential benefit of the study, imaging alternatives that would provide the same or comparable information and assurance of a valid clinical indication for each contrast medium administration.
Providers should weigh risks against benefits, says Hani Abujudeh, MD, MBA, department of radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. In some situations, the benefits outweigh the risks associated with the administration of contrast. However, if an alternative diagnostic method can produce the desired information in a high-risk patient, it may provide a better alternative.
Nevertheless, the potential for kidney damage may be a small price to pay for life-saving information. "If contrast administration results in a diagnosis of a life-threatening condition, then it outweighs the risk of contrast nephropathy," Abujudeh says.
Automated injectors
Hospitals are increasingly adopting automated injectors, which have been shown to reduce the use of contrast and diminish cost. However, in a recent meta-analysis, Brown and colleagues recommended further research on the association between reduced contrast volume and the risk of CIN.In their meta-analysis of six studies, the researchers found that the use of automated contrast injection significantly reduced the volume of contrast delivered to a patient, but there was a lack of evidence regarding the risk of CIN.
"Only one trial reported on the patient outcomes of acute kidney injury. There's a lack of evidence—especially from trials where patients had been randomized through an automated injector or not—on acute kidney injury. Since CI-AKI has been established as a clinical endpoint, all trials evaluating the use of automated contrast injectors should report on the number of patients developing this condition; that way we can move forward towards improved translation of evidence-based medicine and heighten patient safety," Brown says.
The use of an automated contrast injection system in conjunction with contemporary strategies of hydration during diagnostic catheterization and PCI was associated with a significant reduction in the use of contrast volume, as well as in the incidence of CIN, according to Call and colleagues, who studied the incidence of CIN in 1,798 patients after diagnostic catheterization or PCI using handheld manifold injection systems, and in 377 subsequent patients using an automated system.
Pre-procedural hydration was used routinely, and N-acetylcysteine and bicarbonate infusion—which has been shown to reduce the incidence of CI-AKI—were used on an ad-hoc basis. Results indicated that the incidence of CIN was 19.3 percent using a manifold injector, and 13.3 percent after using an automated contrast system.
"There are clearly risk factors for [CIN], and there are a variety of ways to try to reduce it, some of which are proven, some of which are logical but not as well-proven," Call says. "Being cognizant that [CIN is] a problem and doing your best to minimize the volume of contrast during a procedure, make modifications during the case if necessary, while paying attention to adequate hydration status are the most important things."
The bottom line
While there are upfront costs with installing automated injectors, they can eventually pay for themselves. Call says it took roughly 34 months for the decreased use of contrast to pay for five new automated injectors.Contrast is useful because it helps in the diagnosis of various diseases and conditions. Injecting less contrast saves money. But it's not as simple an equation as less contrast equals less cost, Abujudeh notes. More important is implementing procedures aimed at screening patients, identifying those at risk, managing those at risk differently and short- and long-term follow-up of patients. "Those procedures come at a cost, and are hard to put a number on, however, preventing adverse outcomes, reduction of CIN and other contrast-related adverse events, have societal savings," Abujudeh sums.