Imaging Pearls ❯ Contrast ❯ Special Situations: Nursing Patient
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- “ No mutagenic or teratogenic effects have been described after the administration of iodinated contrast during pregnancy, and neither in vitro nor in vivo tests performed in animals revealed any deleterios effects from exposure to iodinated contrast material.”
Guidelines for Use of Medical Imaging During Pregnancy and Lactation
Tremblay E et al.
RadioGraphics 2012; 32:897-911 - “ Consequently the use of iodinated contrast agents in nursing mothers is considered safe.”
Guidelines for Use of Medical Imaging During Pregnancy and Lactation
Tremblay E et al.
RadioGraphics 2012; 32:897-911 - “ The dose of iodinated or gadolinium based contrast medium that reaches the infant through ingestion of breast milk is very small, and only a minute proportion of that which reaches the infants gastrointestinal tract is subsequently absorbed. There is insufficient evidence to recommend even a temporary cessation of breast feeding following the administration of either iodinated or gadolinium based contrast agents.”
Guidelines for Use of Medical Imaging During Pregnancy and Lactation
Tremblay E et al.
RadioGraphics 2012; 32:897-911
- If a patient is nursing can she receive IV contrast?
- Answer: The answer as shown from the best available literature is yes but if a patient is apprehensive then a 24 hour delay would be advisable. - "Because of the very small percentage of iodinated contrast medium that is excreted into the breast milk and absorbed by the infants gut, we believe that the available data suggest that it is safe for the mother and infant to continue breast feeding after receiving such an agent."
Manual on Contrast Media
ACR Version 5.0 - Can you use iodinated contrast in breastfeeding mothers?
- Fact: less than 1 percent of the administered maternal dose of contrast agent is excreted into breast milk and less than 1 percent of the contrast media in breast milk ingested by an infant is absorbed from the GI tract.
- Less than 0.01 percent of the intravascular dose given to the mother is the expected absorbed dose by the infant.
- This amount of contrast medium represents less than 1 percent of the recommended dose for an infant undergoing an imaging study which is 2 ml/kg
- if the patient still is concerned than wait 24 hours post study to breastfeed as 100% of the contrast agent is cleared within 24 hours. (plasma half life of about 2 hours)