Experimental studies on computed tomographic peritoneography. Peritoneal and residual renal function tolerance to iodinated contrast media injected into the peritoneal cavity

Compatibility and stability of non-ionic iodinated contrast media in peritoneal dialysis solution and safe practice considerations for CT peritoneography

BACKGROUND

Computerised tomographic (CT) peritoneography is performed on peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients to identify peritoneal boundary defects, dialysate maldistributions and loculated fluid collections. Iodinated contrast media are added to dialysate and infused through the dialysis catheter, and CT images are obtained. Chemical compatibility of contrast media with dialysis solutions has not been studied. In some institutions, pharmacists charged with oversight of compounded sterile preparations have placed a moratorium on the use of contrast media-dialysate mixtures until compatibility data become available. This study was undertaken to examine the compatibility of non-ionic iodinated contrast agents added to PD solution for the performance of CT peritoneography.

METHODS

100 mL of three non-ionic iodinated contrast agents, iopamidol 370 mgI/mL, iohexol 300 mgI/mL and iodixanol 320 mgI/mL, were mixed with 2 L 1.5% dextrose PD solution and stored at 2-8°C, 25°C and 40°C. Observations at predefined intervals were made over 5 days for visual appearance, turbidity, pH, drug concentration and chemical degradation.

RESULTS

Iopamidol, iohexol and iodixanol were stable for 5 days under study conditions. The contrast-dialysate mixture remained clear and colourless, no turbidity changes observed, pH and drug concentrations were stable and no increase in existing impurities or new impurities were detected.

CONCLUSIONS

The addition of commonly used non-ionic iodinated contrast agents to 1.5% dextrose dialysis solution is chemically stable, meeting the criteria set forth in the standards and guidelines of the US Pharmacopeia and the Institute of Safe Medication Practices. A protocol for performing CT peritoneography is recommended herein to facilitate patient safety and diagnostic reliability of the imaging study.

Tolerance of peritoneal and residual renal function to intraperitoneal gadolinium-based agents: An animal experimental study of magnetic resonance peritoneography

BACKGROUND

MR (Magnetic resonance) peritoneography is sensible for continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)-related complications, which could offer excellent soft-tissue contrast and allows a multiplanar imaging evaluation of complications. However, there is no study about the optimal concentration of the gadolinium-based agents nor the side effects of gadolinium-based agents on peritoneum and residual renal function.

METHOD

Five different groups of uremic rats and two groups of normal rats were injected with a 40-ml mixture of peritoneal dialysate and gadolinium-based agents at varying concentrations prior to MR peritoneography. Thereafter, MR image obtained was evaluated by two experienced radiologists blinded to the concentrations. Peritoneal morphology and thickness of the uremic rats were also assessed using hematoxylin and eosin and Masson staining. Residual renal function was evaluated using serum creatinine levels and hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining of pathological kidney sections.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

The gadolinium-based agents used in this experiment have no significant effect on residual renal function. There is no obvious difference in the image quality at the different gadolinium-based agents concentration. Due to the adverse effects of gadolinium-based agents in the previous studies, we suggest reducing the dose of gadolinium-based agents during MR peritoneography to the lowest limits.

The effectiveness and safety of computed tomographic peritoneography and video-assisted thoracic surgery for hydrothorax in peritoneal dialysis patients: A retrospective cohort study in Japan

Introduction

Albeit uncommon, hydrothorax is an important complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD). Due to paucity of evidence for optimal treatment, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of computed tomographic (CT) peritoneography and surgical intervention involving video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for hydrothorax in a retrospective cohort of patients who underwent PD in Japan.

Methods

Of the 982 patients who underwent PD from six centers in Japan between 2007 and 2019, 25 (2.5%) with diagnosed hydrothorax were enrolled in this study. PD withdrawal rates were compared between patients who underwent VATS for diaphragm repair (surgical group) and those who did not (non-surgical group) using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test.

Results

The surgical and non-surgical groups comprised a total of 11 (44%) and 14 (56%) patients, respectively. Following hydrothorax diagnosis by thoracentesis and detection of penetrated sites on the diaphragm using CT peritoneography, VATS was performed at a median time of 31 days (interquartile range [IQR], 20–96 days). During follow-up (median, 26 months; IQR, 10–51 months), 9 (64.3%) and 2 (18.2%) patients in the non-surgical and surgical groups, respectively, withdrew from PD (P = 0.021). There were no surgery-related complications or hydrothorax relapse in the surgical group.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated the effectiveness and safety of CT peritoneography and VATS for hydrothorax. This approach may be useful in hydrothorax cases to avoid early drop out of PD and continue PD in the long term. Further studies are warranted to confirm these results.