Management of acute adverse reactions by contrast medium

The use of contrast medium (CM) in diagnostic imaging is mandatory for diagnosis, characterization, staging, control during and after therapies and in the follow-up of patients affected by various diseases. Contrast agents are atypical drugs, with no therapeutic effects, used for diagnosis, administered in large doses, often at high speed in the bloodstream. Like all drugs, there are also rarely serious adverse reactions due to contrast medium. The Radiologist has the responsibility of choosing the contrast medium that best suits the specific clinical needs, and how administrate it. Radiologist must insert in the report what he did and the description of adverse event due to CM. The Italian Society of Medical and Interventional Radiology (SIRM), through its study section on contrast agents, has realized a consensus document together with the Italian Society of Anesthesia, Analgesia Resuscitation and Intensive Care (SIAARTI) on the management of acute adverse reactions due to contrast agents. The document deals of the various aspects related to the patient’s risk conditions, the type of adverse reactions and how to treat them. Moreover, the document indicates the medical instruments, drugs and the operating procedures necessary to guarantee the safety of the patient and of the health personnel. The methods of training health personnel involved in the management of emergencies due to administration of the contrast agent are also illustrated. The aim of this work is to spread the knowledge of the document SIRM-SIAARTI for the management of emergencies from contrast medium, illustrating the main topics.