The weight is over – CT contrast dosing by weight, an easy application in a DGH setting

Abstract

Background: Historically a fixed dose of intravenous iodinated contrast medium has been used for portal venous phase abdominal computed tomography (CT). However, with increasing body mass indices, the patient populations now scanned have a wider weight distribution than ever. This results in a subjective variation in abdominal organ enhancement depending on patient weight. Patients of low weight are felt to have examinations with excessive iodinated contrast, whereas those of large weight have examinations with insufficient iodinated contrast. There is good evidence in the literature to support weight-based contrast administration, but some of the published tables can be unwieldy. We wanted to create a table that is easy and efficient to use in a busy district general hospital (DGH) setting.