Contrast media extravasation: manual versus power injector.

OBJECTIVE To compare the incidence and complications of extravasation of low-osmolar nonionic contrast media, injected manually and by the automatic power injector (API). SUBJECTS AND METHODS Three thousand five hundred and sixty patients underwent contrast-enhanced abdominal and thoracic computerized tomography scan in the Department of Clinical Radiology, Al-Amiri Hospital, Kuwait, between June 1998 and December 2002. These patients were prospectively analyzed for contrast media extravasation, its relation to injection rate, cannula insertion and gauge and its complications. 920 patients were administered low-osmolar nonionic contrast media (Ultravist 300, Omni Paque 240 or 300) intravenously by manual injection and 2,640 patients by automatic power injector. RESULTS Of the 3,560 patients contrast media extravasation occurred in 11 (0.3%). The symptoms were observed in 9 patients (0.3%) in the API group and 2 patients (0.2%) in the manual injection group, respectively. None of the patients had any soft tissue injury. CONCLUSION The incidence of contrast media extravasation is not significantly increased by the use of the API. Low-osmolar nonionic contrast media extravasation resulting from the use of API does not cause any morbidity.