Guidelines on intravascular administration of contrast agents according to the European Society of Urogenital Radiology (v. 10.0)
Abstract
Contrast agents are part and parcel of everyday radiological practice. This article provides an overview of current recommendations regarding their use according to the European Society for Urogenital Radiology (ESUR, Guidelines on Contrast Media).
The Czech Society of Radiology currently does not update its own recommendations and has accepted the recommendations of the ESUR. ESUR has been issuing these recommendations since 1994 and has since gained recognition across radiology societies worldwide.
The latest version from March 2018 bears the designation 10.0. The main points of the latest ESUR recommendations are as follows.
Antiallergic premedication of patients is no longer recommended due to lack of evidence of its effectiveness. Similarly, fasting is no longer recommended before the intravascular administration of low-osmolar or iso-osmolar iodinated contrast agents or gadolinium contrast agents.
Oral hydration is no longer recommended as a separate hydration, i.v. administration of NaHCO3 or NaCl solution is preferred. Diabetics with normal renal function and administration of iodinated contrast material outside the suprarenal aorta can continue to take metformin in the normal regimen.
In patients with normal renal function, the interval between two examinations with iodine or gadolinium contrast material (or a combination thereof) should be at least 4 hours. After the administration of iodine and gadolinium contrast agents, lactating women can continue to breastfeed without restrictions.