Virtual Pediatric Hospital: Paediapaedia: Treatment of a Contrast Extravasation

Virtual Pediatric Hospital(tm) : A digital library of pediatric information

Additional pediatric resources: SearchingPediatrics.com | Pediatric Commons

| PediatricEducation.org | GeneralPediatrics.com

Virtual Pediatric Hospital: Paediapaedia: Treatment of a Contrast Extravasation Paediapaedia: Miscellaneous Procedure Descriptions

Treatment of a Contrast Extravasation

Michael P. D'Alessandro, M.D.
Peer Review Status: Internally Peer Reviewed

Patient Preparation:
None

Contrast:
None

Technique:

Risk factors:
Injections over dorsum of hand, foot, and ankle should be avoided
Multiple punctures of a vein
Using angiocaths instead of needles
Injections distal to a tourniquet
Patient with circulation abnormalities - diabetes, previous radiation therapy,connective tissue disease, Raynaud's, deep venous thrombosis, arterial insufficiency, using indwelling lines

Symptoms:
Swelling, erythema, pain
Symptoms will worsen until 24-48 hours after extravasation, so don't underestimate the extent of injury too early on

Treatment:
Watch patient closely
Apply warm compresses (light occlusive dressing with heat)
Massage and elevate the extremity
Immobilization of the extremity if indicated
Swelling should resolve within about 3 days - if it does not or gets worse - call plastic surgery
Note that extravasation reactions with nonionics are less severe than those with ionics

Views to Take:
Not applicable

References:
See References Chapter.

Section Top | Title Page

Additional pediatric resources: SearchingPediatrics.com | Pediatric Commons

| PediatricEducation.org | GeneralPediatrics.com

Virtual Pediatric Hospital is curated by Donna M. D'Alessandro, M.D. and Michael P. D'Alessandro, M.D.

Please send us comments by filling out our Comment Form.

"Virtual Pediatric Hospital", the Virtual Pediatric Hospital logo, and "A digital library of pediatric information" are all Trademarks of Donna M. D'Alessandro, M.D. and Michael P. D'Alessandro, M.D.

Virtual Pediatric Hospital is funded in whole by Donna M. D'Alessandro, M.D. and Michael P. D'Alessandro, M.D. Advertising is not accepted.

Your personal information remains confidential and is not sold, leased, or given to any third party be they reliable or not.

The information contained in Virtual Pediatric Hospital is not a substitute for the medical care and advice of your physician. There may be variations in treatment that your physician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

URL: http://www.virtualpediatrichospital.org/

This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:
verify here.