Assessing and Reducing Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Radiotracer Infiltrations: Lessons in Quality Improvement and Sustainability.

Purpose: Accurate administration of radiotracer dose is essential to positron emission tomography (PET) image quality and quantification. Misadministration (infiltration) of the dose can affect PET/computed tomography results and lead to unnecessary or inappropriate treatments and procedures. Quality control efforts ensure accuracy of the administered dose; however, they fail to ensure complete delivery of the dose into the patient's circulation. We used new technology to assess and improve infiltration rates and evaluate sustainability.

Methods: Injection quality was measured, improved, and sustained during our participation in a multicenter quality improvement project using Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control methodology. Five technologists monitored injection quality in the Measure and Improve phases. After seven new technologists joined the team in the Control phase, infiltration rates were recalculated, controlling for technologist- and patient-level correlations, and comparisons were made between these two groups of technologists.

Results: In the Measure phase, five technologists monitored 263 injections (13.3% infiltration rate). Nonantecubital fossa injections had a higher probability of infiltration than antecubital fossa injections. After implementing a quality improvement plan (QIP), the same technologists monitored 278 injections in the Improve phase (2.9% infiltration rate). The 78% decrease in infiltration rate was significant ( < .001) as was the decrease in nonantecubital fossa infiltrations ( = .0025). In the Control phase, 12 technologists monitored 1,240 injections (3.1% infiltration rate). The seven new technologists had significantly higher rates of infiltration ( = .017).

Conclusion: A QIP can significantly improve and sustain injection quality; however, ongoing monitoring is needed as new technologists join the team.