OT- Calling docs and nurses........... - ThinnerTimes

LisaBoston · 02-20-2007, 10:33 AM

My hubby had an IVP done last week when they did his CT Scan. They injected the dye via IV into his arm. They told him that he may react to the dye within a week or so.

This weekend he broke out in hives and so itchy. He asked me about it and I couldn't find the answer to these 3 questions...anyone know?

1) Where does the dye go after they inject it...it has to get out of your system some how, but how?

2) Why would it take a week for someone to react to the dye. It was injected and no reaction for 5 days, then hives...why so long?

3) My question - I understand having IVP to look for kidney stones and such, but why dye when they are looking for a mass in the chest...how does this help the imaging?

Thanks

chilmoe · 02-20-2007, 10:37 AM

Lisa,

here is a website that will answer some questions until someone gets back to you.

http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=ivp&bhcp=1

i used this website to explain the test to my dad, he gets this done too often.

Dyann · 02-20-2007, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LisaBoston

My hubby had an IVP done last week when they did his CT Scan. They injected the dye via IV into his arm. They told him that he may react to the dye within a week or so.

This weekend he broke out in hives and so itchy. He asked me about it and I couldn't find the answer to these 3 questions...anyone know?

1) Where does the dye go after they inject it...it has to get out of your system some how, but how?It is taken up by the kidneys and excreted when given intravenously. When given orally...it is pooped out

2) Why would it take a week for someone to react to the dye. It was injected and no reaction for 5 days, then hives...why so long? Usually and allergic reaction such as hives is more temporal to the time it is given and treated with benadryl or steroids. When severe it may require epinephrine. A delayed type hypersensitivity usually happens at 3 days. 5 is a bit long.

3) My question - I understand having IVP to look for kidney stones and such, but why dye when they are looking for a mass in the chest...how does this help the imaging? If he had a Ct of the abdomen and pelvis without IV contrast, that would have been able to show a kidney stone. IVP's aren't done much anymore with the use of CT's. If there is a question on the CT, then the IVP would be the next step. On a CT you are looking for a stone which is calcium and bright on the study. You don't give contrast as that is also bright and will mask the stone. On an IVP you are looking for the flow of urine. Contrast is taken up by the kidneys and excreted through the kidneys. A stone will look like a filling defect or a back up of contrast. Just like plumbing. You use contrast when you are looking for something that would enhance with blood flow. In the chest, it usually not needed unless you are looking for a mass that may enhance (become brighter) with the contrast because of the increased blood supply to it. In the abdomen, it helps for some things but not others. You have to have an idea what you are looking for and not just groping for a diagnosis (we then call it a grope-a -gram)Thanks

Hope that answers the questions. A very complicated topic.

LisaBoston · 02-21-2007, 10:35 AM

Wow...complicated indeed. The standard here for chest CT is to use IVP. I know with him, the xrays were not clear, thus the reason for the CT.

Yes 5 days for the hives, but they seem better now..I have to be very careful with him as he has so many allergies - sulpha, benadryl and a few other things.

So another thought......what is the best test for GBP patients if something is not quite right...I would think an xray is useless, an ultrasound could show something, the barium swallow would show up good with xray, but would a CT be the best thing?

Thanks Dyann......