Contrast and Amount Used in Body CT for Pediatric Patients

Oral contrast is determined by age as of the amount needed per patient:

Omnipaque 350 for Pediatric Patients.

12ml (.04ml) of Omnipaque added to a 10 oz bottle of Apple Juice, kept in the Ped' s radiology area. When mixed with juice it has a very good taste and patients will drink without a problem. To mix with any liquid, mix .04ml of Omnipaque Contrast X the amount of liquid you are preparing. I.E. 500 ml Sterile Water for Irrigation, you would use .04 ml X 500 ml = 20 ml of Omnipaque Contrast.

Abdominal and pelvic CT contrast should be started at least 2-3 hours prior to the patient in the procedure area. Just prior to the scan an additional amount approx. 30-45 cc should be given. Sometimes water may be used as a contrast agent as well. On infants and toddlers who do not tolerate the oral contrast, a N-G tube should be placed and the contrast administered via that tube. The tube can be removed, unless patient is being sedated for a Bone scan and a CT scan, leave N-G tube in place for administration of the oral contrast while patient is being scanned in Nuc Med. prior to being taken to Body CT.

Suggested Feeding Tube Sizes:

IV Contrast is used as well as oral contrast for patients having a CT Scan. Visapaque 320 is used in patients in Pediatric Body Ct. The dose is based on the patients weight: 1cc per Lb of Body Weight or 2cc per Kg of Body Weight

Updated May 1, 2007 by Ron Wardrope, RN CRN