Abstract
To describe the reasons and additional radiation for CT scans repeated after transfer to a trauma center. Retrospective study of patients transferred to a trauma center. Patients had repeat CT if a CTof the same region was repeated at the trauma center's emergency department. Indications for repeat CT scanning were abstracted. Radiation dosage was calculated in millisieverts. A total of 370 had CTscans and were transferred. Mean age was 39.1 ± 28.0 years. Seventy-four [20.0%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 16.0-24.4%] had 103 CTs repeated. Adults (64/254, 25.2%) were more likely than children (10/116, 8.6%) to undergo repeat CT (difference 16.6%, 95% CI 9.2-24.0%). Types of CTs repeated included: head 48 (47%), face 6 (6%), cervical spine/neck 21 (20%), thoracolumbar spine 4 (4%), chest 4 (4%), and abdominal/pelvic 20 (19%). Reasons for repeat CTwere outside CT unavailable 31 (42%), insufficient image quality/additional details needed 15 (20%), disease progression 16 (22%), unknown 10 (14%), and consult request unknown reason 2 (3%). Median dose for the repeat CT scans was 4.19 mSv (interquartile range 1.98, 6.28) and was 4.79 mSv (interquartile range 2.47, 8.22) when the CTs were unavailable. Effective dose of the repeat scans was greater than 10 mSv in 13 (3.5%) patients. Patients transferred to a trauma center often undergo repeat CT. The most common reason for repeated imaging was failure to transport original CT scans with the patient or images that were unable to be viewed. Trauma centers should work with their catchment areas to establish systems that ensure transfer of all radiographic imaging.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 465-469 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | American Surgeon |
| Volume | 83 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| State | Published - May 1 2017 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
Rate and reasons for repeat CT scanning in transferred trauma patients. / Holmes Jr, James F; Siglock, Blake G.; Corwin, Michael T; Johnson, Michael; Salcedo, Edgardo; Espinoza, Gabriel S.; Lamba, Ramit.
In: American Surgeon, Vol. 83, No. 5, 01.05.2017, p. 465-469.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Rate and reasons for repeat CT scanning in transferred trauma patients
AU - Holmes Jr, James F
AU - Siglock, Blake G.
AU - Corwin, Michael T
AU - Johnson, Michael
AU - Salcedo, Edgardo
AU - Espinoza, Gabriel S.
AU - Lamba, Ramit
PY - 2017/5/1
Y1 - 2017/5/1
N2 - To describe the reasons and additional radiation for CT scans repeated after transfer to a trauma center. Retrospective study of patients transferred to a trauma center. Patients had repeat CT if a CTof the same region was repeated at the trauma center's emergency department. Indications for repeat CT scanning were abstracted. Radiation dosage was calculated in millisieverts. A total of 370 had CTscans and were transferred. Mean age was 39.1 ± 28.0 years. Seventy-four [20.0%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 16.0-24.4%] had 103 CTs repeated. Adults (64/254, 25.2%) were more likely than children (10/116, 8.6%) to undergo repeat CT (difference 16.6%, 95% CI 9.2-24.0%). Types of CTs repeated included: head 48 (47%), face 6 (6%), cervical spine/neck 21 (20%), thoracolumbar spine 4 (4%), chest 4 (4%), and abdominal/pelvic 20 (19%). Reasons for repeat CTwere outside CT unavailable 31 (42%), insufficient image quality/additional details needed 15 (20%), disease progression 16 (22%), unknown 10 (14%), and consult request unknown reason 2 (3%). Median dose for the repeat CT scans was 4.19 mSv (interquartile range 1.98, 6.28) and was 4.79 mSv (interquartile range 2.47, 8.22) when the CTs were unavailable. Effective dose of the repeat scans was greater than 10 mSv in 13 (3.5%) patients. Patients transferred to a trauma center often undergo repeat CT. The most common reason for repeated imaging was failure to transport original CT scans with the patient or images that were unable to be viewed. Trauma centers should work with their catchment areas to establish systems that ensure transfer of all radiographic imaging.
AB - To describe the reasons and additional radiation for CT scans repeated after transfer to a trauma center. Retrospective study of patients transferred to a trauma center. Patients had repeat CT if a CTof the same region was repeated at the trauma center's emergency department. Indications for repeat CT scanning were abstracted. Radiation dosage was calculated in millisieverts. A total of 370 had CTscans and were transferred. Mean age was 39.1 ± 28.0 years. Seventy-four [20.0%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 16.0-24.4%] had 103 CTs repeated. Adults (64/254, 25.2%) were more likely than children (10/116, 8.6%) to undergo repeat CT (difference 16.6%, 95% CI 9.2-24.0%). Types of CTs repeated included: head 48 (47%), face 6 (6%), cervical spine/neck 21 (20%), thoracolumbar spine 4 (4%), chest 4 (4%), and abdominal/pelvic 20 (19%). Reasons for repeat CTwere outside CT unavailable 31 (42%), insufficient image quality/additional details needed 15 (20%), disease progression 16 (22%), unknown 10 (14%), and consult request unknown reason 2 (3%). Median dose for the repeat CT scans was 4.19 mSv (interquartile range 1.98, 6.28) and was 4.79 mSv (interquartile range 2.47, 8.22) when the CTs were unavailable. Effective dose of the repeat scans was greater than 10 mSv in 13 (3.5%) patients. Patients transferred to a trauma center often undergo repeat CT. The most common reason for repeated imaging was failure to transport original CT scans with the patient or images that were unable to be viewed. Trauma centers should work with their catchment areas to establish systems that ensure transfer of all radiographic imaging.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85020096413&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 28541855
AN - SCOPUS:85020096413
VL - 83
SP - 465
EP - 469
JO - American Surgeon
JF - American Surgeon
SN - 0003-1348
IS - 5
ER -