CT (computed tomography) contrast agents may harm lung injury patients:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Injecting a contrast agent into the lungs of patients with acute lung injury (ALI) during investigative CT scans may worsen the severity of their condition, say US researchers. A 14-patient study found that injecting CT-contrast dye into patients with ALI, a disorder characterised by widespread destruction of lung tissue and a reduction of oxygen levels in the blood, causes the accumulation of fluid in the lungs. This can make it more difficult to breathe, which is particularly risky for already critically ill patients, the researchers report in Critical Care (December 16).