Chapter 19 Pharmacology for the Interventional Pain Physician Flashcards
Iodinated contrast agents provide greater attenuation
of x-ray radiation, relative to
tissue and bone, reducing
the amount of radiation reaching the detector (fluoroscopic intensifier) This allows contrast to be easily visualized on x-ray images
Iodinated contrast media (ICM)
in image-guided procedures is utilized to
define the anticipated spread and location of the injectate. This improves safety by avoiding injection of drugs into unintended locations such as intravascular or intrathecal
spaces
ICM are based on variations of
the 2, 4, 6 tri-iodinated benzene ring
ICM are classified on the basis of
their chemical structure, osmolality, iodine content, and ionization
The iodine content is responsible for
x-ray attenuation and the concentration in mg iodine/ml is used to express the strength of the
attenuation of a particular agent
Clinically used ICM agents
have how much iodine
between 180 to 400 mg/ml of iodine.
The chemical composition of contrast media is in four different forms:
ionic monomers,
ionic dimers,
nonionic monomers
nonionic dimers
Ionization of ICM is produced
by
substitutions on the benzene ring at the 1, 3, and 5 positions to produce water solubility and physiologic pH
Solubility of the nonionic contrast media is due to
substitution with hydrophilic side chains such as
hydroxyl or amide groups
The concentration of iodine necessary to obtain
radiographic attenuation dictates
the number of particles in solution (osmolality) needed for a particular agent to be effective
Contrast osmotoxic reactions
pain on injection, hemolysis,
endothelial damage (capillary leak and edema), vasodilation
(flushing, warmth, hypotension, and cardiovascular
collapse), hypervolemia, and direct cardiodepressive effects
Ionic ICM are strictly contraindicated for all applications involving the
central nervous system (CNS) and may cause severe or fatal neurotoxic reactions following
intrathecal administration
ICM agents of choice for interventional pain procedures
Non-ionic ICM are the agents of choice due to their lower osmolality and toxicity
Commercially Available Ionic Monomeric X-ray Contrast Media
Meglumine iothalamate (Conray) Meglumine ioxithalamate (Telebrix) Sodium amidotrizoate (Urografin, Hypaque)
Commercially Available Nonionic Monomers X-ray Contrast Media
Iohexol (Omnipaque) Iopentol( Imagopaque) Ioxitol ( Ixilan) Iomeprol (Iomeron) Ioversol (Optiray) Iopromide (Ultravist) Iobitridol (Xenetix) Iopamidol (Iopamiro)
Commercially Available Ionic Dimer X-ray Contrast Media
Ioxaglate (Hexabrix)
Commercially Available Non- Ionic Dimer X-ray Contrast Media
Iotrolan (Isovist)
Iodixanol (Visipaque)
ICM Distribution
ICM are hydrophilic and demonstrate low protein binding. After intravascular injection there is rapid
distribution into the extracellular space and the fall in plasma concentration is rapid.
ICM Metabolism
Elimination is by glomerular filtration without reabsorption and there is virtually no metabolism.
ICM Elimination in patient with and without renal impairment.
In patients with normal renal function the elimination half-life is approximately 2 hr, and with renal impairment excretion can last for weeks.
Severe reactions of ICM
anaphylactic or anaphylactoid symptoms of severe bronchospasm, laryngeal edema, angioedema, pulmonary edema, hypotension, convulsions, cardiac dysrhythmias, or arrest
Adverse reactions to ICM can be classified as
idiosyncratic or immediate and delayed.
The immediate reactions of ICM
are generally the most severe and consist in this setting of
anaphylactoid type reactions of varying severity. These reactions are generally independent of dose and unpredictable, and usually occur within 1 hr of administration. There is increased risk in patients with a prior reaction to ICM, and with underlying disease including asthmatics,history of atopy, and advanced heart disease
Treatment of immediate reactions of ICM
If suspected these reactions need to be treated with antihistamines,
epinephrine, corticosteroids, and full cardiopulmonary
resuscitation as needed
Delayed reactions of ICM
Delayed reactions are composed of chemotoxic reactions and cutaneous manifestations of delayed hypersensitivity. The chemotoxic reactions
include contrast mediated nephrotoxicity, decreased cardiac
contractility, and neurotoxicity, all of which are dose
dependent and should be rare in this setting with use of
nonionized agents.
The delayed allergy-like skin reactions of ICM
are twice as frequent for nonionic dimers as for nonionic monomers
How to prevent adverse reactions of ICM?
The first step is to understand the risk factors, including a previous reaction to ICM, and take a history to elucidate the type of reaction the patient experienced. The history should also include the type of agent and whether it was an ionic or nonionic agent
Treatment protocols for anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions,
antihistamine and corticosteroid prophylaxis against anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions,
including oxygen, intravenous fluids, antihistamines (H1 and H2blockers), adrenergic drugs (epinephrine), and corticosteroid
Ionic ICM vs. non-ioninc agents adverse reactions
Ionic ICM have 4 times the incidence of these reactions
compared to nonionic agents