The Radiological Society of the Netherlands has now fully authorized the first part of its guidelines on the safe use of contrast media.
The guideline text is available with an English introduction via the society's website. The Safe Use of Contrast Media guidelines cover the prevention of postcontrast acute kidney injury (PK-AKI) from iodine-containing contrast media in adults.
They are the first set of contrast media guidelines that are both evidence-based and multidisciplinary, even though they were initiated by the Radiological Society of the Netherlands, and they are to be implemented in all hospitals in the country, according to the editors. The guidelines lower the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) cut-off value for preventive hydration by any route of contrast media administration to < 30 ml/min/1.73m2. Also, they recommend (temporarily or permanently) withholding Metformin only in patients with an eGFR of < 30 ml/min/1.73m2. In addition, the guidelines confirm the fact that procedures with contrast media administration do not have to be planned immediately prior or after a dialysis session.
