To Örebro University

Purpose: The aim of this systematic literature review was to obtain an overview of when to administer the diuretics in relation to the radiopharmaceutical during a diuresis renography.

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed in three different databases (Embase, PubMed/Medline and Cochrane Library) together with an information specialist. The review question was: when should diuretics be administered in relation to the radiopharmaceutical in a diuresis renography? Studies of adults were included together with guidelines published in collaboration with an organization.

Results: Seventeen articles and four guidelines were retrieved in the literature search. The F - 15 method (diuretics administered 15 min before the radiopharmaceutical) was the one that was studied and described most and was compared with other time points for diuretic administration. The retrieved articles and guidelines report of advantages with different time points for diuretics. Both F - 15 and F + 0 are reported to clarify washout in equivocal cases compared to F + 20.

Conclusion: No consensus could be found for a preferred time point of diuretics administration during a diuresis renography.

OBJECTIVE: The F+10 method for diuretic renography (diuretics given 10 min after the radiopharmaceutical) could be a time-conserving method. This method involves a 30-min dynamic acquisition where diuretics are administered only when necessary by the Nuclear Medicine technologist performing the examination. The purpose of this study was to assess the method's performance and to discover the optimal threshold of residual activity for a diuretic administration 7 min into the F+10 renography by reprocessing raw data from prior performed examinations with 20-min acquisitions without diuretics.

METHODS: Retrospectively, raw data from 320 original examinations of adult patients performed from 2013 to 2015 were reprocessed into 7-min series and categorized as requiring diuretic or not. The diuretic decisions made by an expert panel were used as a reference. A receiver-operating characteristic curve was drawn to assess the optimal cutoff value for the residual renal activity. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, as well as the Youden J index were calculated.

RESULT: The experts classified 50% (160 examinations) as in need of diuretics. The receiver-operating characteristic curve demonstrated the theoretical optimal cutoff value at 7 min to be 94% of maximum activity (sensitivity 0.93, specificity 0.81, Youden J index 0.73). A clinically acceptable threshold is suggested to be 85% (sensitivity 0.99, specificity 0.59, Youden J index 0.58).

CONCLUSION: Tc-mercaptoacetyltriglycine renography with the F+10 method and the threshold 85% for diuretic decision 7 min into the renography is a feasible and acceptable method in clinical practice.

INTRODUCTION: Diuresis renography is a nuclear medicine examination that can distinguish between obstructive and non-obstructive uropathy. Renography has been investigated before, but not from a patient perspective. The aim of this study was to gain knowledge and understanding of patient experiences with the diuresis renography process.

METHODS: The study had a qualitative descriptive design; data was collected through semi-structured interviews with 17 adult patients that had recently undergone diuresis renography. The transcripts were analysed using inductive qualitative content analysis to identify their manifest and latent content.

RESULTS: One main theme was identified: 'Not smooth all the way through, but still in good hands'. The participants understood the necessity of the performed renography and endured the examination despite its worrying elements. They were bothered by diuretic effects, worried about radioactivity and felt isolated during the imaging. The technologists' caring and informative approach eased their experience. The main theme was identified from three subthemes: 'I experienced inconvenience', 'I was worried' and 'I felt safe'.

CONCLUSION: The participants experienced worry throughout the renography process but were still satisfied with the examination, mostly because of the technologists being involved. Communication and interaction between patient and technologist are important for creating a good experience. Improved knowledge of patient experiences during renographies could be used to develop patient information and increase technologists' awareness of factors patients may experience as troubling.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This study describes issues that contribute to both negative and positive experiences. Improved professional awareness and knowledge about these issues can contribute to the development of patient information and professional encounters, and may improve patients' compliance and overall experience.