BACKGROUND:

Angiographic embolization (AE) is increasingly used to control bleeding after severe trauma. Serious concerns have been raised about the safety of high-volume IV contrast in hypotensive, hypovolemic patients.

STUDY DESIGN:

In a prospective cohort study, 100 consecutive trauma patients underwent AE for bleeding in the abdomen and pelvis. Serum creatinine (Cr) levels were measured before the procedure and up to 5 days after the procedure. Contrast nephropathy was defined as an increase in Cr levels after AE of more than 25% over the baseline measurement. An average of 248 ± 59 mL of nonionic, low-osmolality contrast was used in all cases.

RESULTS:

Compared with the baseline, no increase in Cr levels after AE was observed among all patients (1.02 ± 0.24 versus 0.94 ± 0.26 mg/dL; p = 0.01) or among subgroups of patients who had any of the following risk factors for renal failure: older than 60 years, Injury Severity Score ≥ 15, shock on arrival, renal injury, elevated Cr levels (≥ 1.5 mg/dL) before AE, or administration of a high volume of contrast (>250 mL). Contrast nephropathy developed in five patients by means of mild Cr elevations. In all of these patients, Cr returned to baseline within 5 days of AE. Renal failure requiring hemodialysis developed at 41 and 55 days after AE in two patients with multiple organ failure who eventually died.

CONCLUSIONS:

Administration of nonionic contrast during AE causes mild and transient contrast nephropathy in 5% of severely injured patients. Our study adds additional support for the safety of AE for trauma.