PURPOSES: To evaluate the emergency resources of the clinics that perform fluorescein angiography in Pernambuco and, through a short multiple-choice questionnaire, to evaluate the ophthalmologists' performance to treat adverse reactions to contrast injection and to determine if the time after completing the specialization course in Ophthalmology influences in the results. METHODS: An interview with the eighteen ophthalmologists of the ten clinics where this examination is performed was made. The multiple-choice questionnaire had ten questions with five options each and only one correct answer. This questionnaire was about adverse reactions to fluorescein injection. RESULTS: One physician refused to participate and was excluded from the analysis. Among the others, fifteen physicians (88.2%) were certified specialists by the Brazilian Council of Ophthalmologists. All clinics had the basic structure for the initial care of adverse reactions to contrast injection. Half of these clinics (five) performed this examination with the presence of an anesthesiologist directly monitoring the patient and the other half had one on duty, if necessary. The number of correct answers varied between 3 and 8, with a mean of 5.2±1.6. Only four (23.6%) physicians gave more than seven correct answers. Specialists with five or less years of postgraduation in Ophthalmology had better results regarding the questionnaire (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Despite appropriate material resources and support by anesthesiologist, the results of this study suggest that ophthalmologists who perform fluorescein angiography are not well-prepared to manage the possible adverse reactions, mainly doctors with more than five years after postgraduation in Ophthalmology.
Fuorescein angiography; Fluorescein; Nausea; Vomiting; Contrast media; Anaphylaxis; Specialties; medical; Questionnaires