Background: Intravenous (IV) contrast improves the sensitivity and specificity of injury detection in computerized tomography (CT). Its use is recommended in the workup of trauma patients by the American College of Surgeons and American College of Radiology. On May 9, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration declared a shortage of iodinated contrast due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the shortage has ended, the temporary lack of IV contrast forced physicians to be prudent in ordering CT scans with IV contrast. We sought to determine if there was a change in the percentage of CT contrast studies performed during the contrast shortage and if this change affected patient outcomes.Methods: Retrospective chart review was performed on all adult tier 2 trauma patients at a 619-bed community-based level II trauma center who received CT chest, abdomen, and pelvis imaging as initial workup for blunt trauma from 5/9/2021-6/30/2021 (pre-shortage) and 5/9/2022-6/30/2022 (during shortage).Results: Patients were predominantly male with median age of 31-52 and of White or Hispanic ethnicity. Before the contrast shortage, all 110 trauma patients were scanned with contrast. During the shortage, 29 of 114 patients were scanned with contrast (P < 0.001). Injuries were identified in 59% of patients scanned with contrast (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in blood transfusion needs, repeat CT, disposition, or mortality when comparing pre-shortage to during shortage or when comparing between non-contrast and contrast studies during the shortage.Discussion: There was a decrease in the percentage of CT contrast studies performed during the shortage. A higher percentage of injuries were identified in the patients scanned with contrast. However, there were no significant differences in patient outcomes. Certain trauma patients may be safely scanned without contrast.
Keywords: trauma; trauma acute care.