Abstract
BACKGROUND: ICM's adverse effects are quite frequent and potentially serious. The use of protocols to test and manage patients receiving ICM could help to decrease the adverse effects because they advise against the studies or prescribe the administration of premedication; however, its use in pediatrics is still limited. We describe the results of the use of a test and management protocol for pediatric patients requiring ICM. METHODS: All the patients of a pediatric hospital prescribed with ICM between 31st January 2008 and 5th March 2011 were included. The following variables have been analyzed: age, sex, type of study to be performed, diagnoses and hospitalized or outpatient, risk (regular, increased or non-advised) and the presence of adverse reactions. We also analyzed the relation between risk and age, sex and condition (chi cuadrado o t test). Significance level P < 0.05. RESULTS: We included 841 patients (56.9% male, age = 92.7 ± 24.5 months, 60% hospitalized). The most frequent test was chest Tc (36%) and the most frequent diagnosis was solid tumors (25%). Patients with increased risk were significantly lower than those with regular risk (75.7 ± 69.7 months vs 109.7 ± 61.6, P < 0.001). During the research period there were no adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: The classification of risk groups by this Goverment Buenos Aires City protocols allows a rational management of the patients requiring ICM and minimize the adverse effects.