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Vasovagal reactions are low in flouroscopically guided procedures
ORLANDO, Fla. — Although the rate of vasovagal reactions are low in fluoroscopically guided interventional procedures, several factors have been shown to raise the chances of having such a reaction, according to study results presented here.
During the International Spine Intervention Society Annual Meeting, Byron Schneider, MD, presented findings from a retrospective case series that analyzed the results of more than 8,000 injections, including epidural steroid injections, radiofrequency nerve ablations, medial branch blocks, hip injections, knee injections and glenohumeral injections, in 4,183 patients during a 5-year period. Schneider and colleagues used Pearson’s chi-square test to determine the relationship between categorical variables.
Study results showed the overall vasovagal reaction rate was 2.6%, with 0.8% of the procedures terminated early due to a vasovagal reaction, according to Schneider.
The researchers found that diagnostic blocks of the medial branches had the highest rate of vasovagal reactions, at 5.1%.
The reaction rate was low, but men were twice as likely as women to have a reaction. Additionally, those under the age of 65 years were 2.4 times more likely to have a reaction than those older than 65 years.
“Essentially, if you have a young male with a low level of pain, he’s mostly likely to have a vasovagal reaction,” Schneider said.
Reference: Schneider B. Vasovagal Rates in Fluoroscopically Guided Interventional Procedures: A Study of Over 8,000 Injections. Presented at: International Spine Intervention Society Annual Meeting; July 30-Aug. 3, 2014; Orlando, Fla.
Disclosures: Schneider has no relevant financial disclosures.