Benefit of a Visual Aid in the Management of Moderate-Severity Contrast Media Reactions

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to compare management of moderate-severity reactions with and without a visual aid or flowchart in contrast medium reaction simulations. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. All attending radiologists and trainees were requested to participate in a contrast medium reaction simulation program, including a moderate-severity reaction scenario, and were randomized to groups having or not having a visual aid. The time to administer intramuscular (IM) epinephrine via automated injector and errors in administration were recorded. After the simulation, all participants completed a survey assessing their comfort in treating reactions to contrast media with and without a visual aid. RESULTS. A total of 138 participants were divided into 21 sessions in the program, with 68 participants in the moderate-severity reaction scenario. Eleven groups were provided a visual aid; 10 groups were not. Errors in management occurred in 18.2% (2 of 11) of groups with visual aids versus 40% (4 of 10) in gr...