Hypersensitivity Reactions to Ultrasound-Enhancing Agents: Prescreening, Recognition, and Management

Ultrasound Enhancing Agents (UEAs) play an important role in improving image quality and diagnostic confidence in echocardiography. Although hypersensitivity reactions to UEAs are extremely rare, echocardiography laboratory staff should be prepared to recognize and appropriately manage these events to support patient safety. This activity will review the clinical presentation of hypersensitivity reactions and discuss how to differentiate them from underlying cardiac symptoms that may present similarly. Practical considerations for patient prescreening and implementation of appropriate response protocols within the echocardiography laboratory will also be discussed.

After completing this activity, participants should be better able to:

• Discuss the incidence of adverse reactions to ultrasound-enhancing agents (UEAs)
• Differentiate mild hypersensitivity reactions from more serious anaphylactic reactions as well as underlying cardiac symptomology that could mimic UEA hypersensitivity reactions
• Review emergency protocols to effectively manage patients with adverse reactions to UEAs
• Summarize echo staff’s role and responsibilities in optimizing patient safety in the echo lab

This program has been designed for physicians with an interest in cardiac imaging (including, but not limited to, cardiologists, interventional cardiologists, cardiac, and vascular surgeons), and other healthcare professionals involved in echocardiography.