Role of the radiopharmacist in myocardial perfusion imaging safety as part of a multidisciplinary team

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Vasodilator stress agents have limitations and clinical contraindications that must be identified before patients undergo myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). Clinical pharmacy may be viewed as part of radiopharmacy practice enabling radiopharmacists to recognize patients with an increased risk of complications and identify relative and absolute contraindications for vasodilator cardiac stress. Purpose Assessment of the role of the radiopharmacist in a multidisciplinary team focused on the safe performance of regadenoson and adenosine stress MPI. Methods We studied 800 patients undergoing SPECT MPI (55.9% female, mean age 67.1 ±11.4 y, range: 24-90 y). Gender, age, medical history, medications, drug allergies and contraindications for stress testing were registered and the resulting recommendations were reported to the nuclear physician in charge of the patient. Results The table displays the findings and recommendations to the nuclear physician. No contraindications were found in 77.2% of patients. Conclusion With a systematic approach, the radiopharmacist detected a drug interaction or clinical contraindication in approximately 25% of patients and the reported recommendations were well received and accepted by the nuclear physicians who changed their approach with the resulting increased patient safety. The clinical activity of radiopharmacists can be enhanced and many opportunities will be identified. Physicians and nurses should be aware of the potential role of radiopharmacists as clinical providers in Nuclear Medicine departments.