Transient Renal Hypoperfusion During a Vasovagal Episode

Abstract

Objective: Nuclear medicine technologists are often called upon to recognize adverse events during patient imaging and take appropriate actions. A vasovagal episode occurred in a patient who was undergoing upright renal imaging.

Methods: A 39-yr-old female with invasive cervical cancer was undergoing a renal scan as part of her preoperative evaluation prior to an abdominal hysterectomy. One to two minutes after intravenous administration of ^99mTc-MAG3 (10 mCi), the patient became nauseated and lightheaded.

Results: After 15–20 min, the patient’s symptoms resolved but a review of the images revealed tracer retention within the kidneys, indicative of decreased renal blood flow. We feel that a severe drop in blood pressure resulted from this patient’s vasovagal episode.

Conclusions: The technologist can alleviate the transient hypoperfusion of a vasovagal episode during an imaging procedure, but they must first be aware of the signs and symptoms in order to take the appropriate action.