Rationale and objectives: Water soluble contrast media may cause tissue injury by extravasation during intravenous injection during various radiologic examinations. The authors attempted to find out what kind of management could mitigate tissue injury when extravasation of water soluble contrast media occurs.
Methods: Sodium and meglumine ioxithalamate was injected subcutaneously into 240 hind feet of 120 rats that were divided into six groups according to the methods of experimental management. Experimental managements included the following: no further management (control), injection of distilled water, injection of normal saline, injection of hydrocortisone, hot water application, and cold water application. Gross morphologic changes in each group were compared with those in the control group.
Results: Only the saline injection group showed statistically significant decrease of tissue injury compared with the control group.
Conclusions: Saline injection lessens the degree of soft-tissue injury at contrast media extravasation sites in rats.