Feasibility of preventing massive contrast media extravasation using a sensor device in contrast-enhanced CT: an observational study.

Background: Recent guidelines recommend direct patient observation, pressure monitoring, and sensor devices to prevent extravasation during contrast media (CM) injection. However, it is impractical in terms of time and cost to install sensors for all patients.

Purpose: To identify risk factors for CM extravasations during contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) in a large population and to establish criteria for placing the sensor device on patients.

Material and methods: This retrospective study included 143,556 patients who underwent CECT at our hospital between April 2012 and July 2022. We performed multivariable logistic regression analysis between patients with (n = 350) and randomly selected patients without CM extravasation (n = 350). We investigated the percentage of patients with sensor devices and their sensitivity for detecting extravasation using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.

Results: The extravasation rate was 0.27%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the injection rate (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.33-1.95: P <0.001), catheter gauge (AOR = 3.86, 95% CI = 1.92-7.76; P <0.001), the use of anticancer drugs (AOR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.32-2.50; P <0.001), and existing catheters (AOR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.10-2.11; P = 0.009) were significantly associated with extravasation. To achieve a sensitivity of 90%, 80%, 70%, 60%, and 50%, 80%, 65%, 50%, 40%, and 28% of all patients required the placement of a sensor device, respectively.

Conclusion: Sensitivity analysis established criteria for effective placing sensor devices.