High positive computed tomography yields in the emergency department might not be a positive finding

South African Medical Journal = Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif Vir Geneeskunde
K Swartzberg, L N Goldstein

Abstract

There is growing pressure to reduce unnecessary computed tomography (CT) imaging requests that the radiology department receives from the emergency department (ED); however, information on acceptable usage rates and diagnostic yields remains scanty. To describe the indications, clinical categories and positive yield rates of patients receiving CT scans in the ED. A retrospective record review was done of all patients who received CT scans at an urban, adult academic ED during a 4-month period. Primary outcomes were to establish CT scan usage and positive yield rates. Other outcomes included analysis of indications, demographics and anatomical areas scanned. Scans (n=1 010) were analysed. The median age of patients was 36 (range 4 - 93) years. Male patients received 64.3% of all scans, as well as 75.7% of the scans performed for trauma. The majority of the scans were for trauma patients. However, non-trauma patients had a higher positive yield; the non-trauma positive yield rate was 61.8% compared with the trauma positive yield rate of 47.1% (p<0.001). The majority of scans performed were of the head (58%) and neck (20%), with lowest positive yield rates of 48.9% and 17%, respectively. The overall CT scan usage rate was 4.6% ...Continue Reading

Citations

Nov 20, 2021·African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine·Liezel RossouwKlaus B Von Pressentin

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