VIDEO: Contrast media shortage impacting cardiac CT imaging

He explained how hospitals are trying to reduce their usage of iodine contrast for CT imaging. This includes working with hospital pharmacies to break down large packaging into smaller vials or syringes to prevent waste. Williamson said less dose also can be used and CT system kVp can be reduced to help improve the iodine visualization on low contrast scans.

Williamson is also associate chair for radiology informatics at Mayo Clinic Rochester and supervises the radiology artificial intelligence program at Mayo. He is the former division chair of cardiovascular radiology and medical director of CT operations at Mayo Clinic. He serves as co-director of Mayo Clinic's structural heart disease imaging lab.

Related Contrast Media Shortage News: 

VIDEO: How the iodine contrast shortage is impacting interventional cath labs — Interview with Kirk Garratt, MD

Be prepared: IV contrast media shortage could last up to 8 weeks

Gadolinium can be used as substitute for iodine contrast in some interventional imaging procedures

VIDEO: Gadolinium being substituted for iodine contrast in some procedures due to shortage — Interview with Alan H. Matsumoto, MD 

GE provides update on contrast media shortage

VIDEO: Imaging contrast shortage is delaying procedures and causing rationing — Interview with Alan H. Matsumoto, MD 

Frontline perspectives on the CT contrast shortage: 5 notable quotes

More cardiac CT news

Dave Fornell is a digital editor with Cardiovascular Business and Radiology Business magazines. He has been covering healthcare for more than 16 years.

Dave Fornell has covered healthcare for more than 17 years, with a focus in cardiology and radiology. Fornell is a 5-time winner of a Jesse H. Neal Award, the most prestigious editorial honors in the field of specialized journalism. The wins included best technical content, best use of social media and best COVID-19 coverage. Fornell was also a three-time Neal finalist for best range of work by a single author. He produces more than 100 editorial videos each year, most of them interviews with key opinion leaders in medicine. He also writes technical articles, covers key trends, conducts video hospital site visits, and is very involved with social media. E-mail: dfornell@innovatehealthcare.com

Around the web

Ron Blankstein, MD, professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the use of artificial intelligence to detect heart disease in non-cardiac CT exams.

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.

Kate Hanneman, MD, explains why many vendors and hospitals want to lower radiology's impact on the environment. "Taking steps to reduce the carbon footprint in healthcare isn’t just an opportunity," she said. "It’s also a responsibility."