DEPARTMENTAL AUDIT ON THE APPROPIATENESS OF C.T EXAMINATIONS

Hamna Abdul Wahid

Abstract


OBJECTIVE: To establish the appropriateness of C.T examination requests and to set guidelines in order to minimize inappropriate C.T   examinations in future ,  to reduce both undue patient radiation exposure as well as to prolong x-ray tube life of C.T machine.

DESIGN: Prospective Study

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY:  This audit was conducted in Department of Radiology Sheikh Zayed Medical College Rahim Yar Khan for a period of two months after approval from institutional review board from 20-11-2022 to 20-01-2023.

METHODOLOGY: Retrospective study was conducted for two months. All C.T examinations were evaluated by radiologists. Total 1101 examinations were evaluated and appropriateness rate   (AR           )  was calculated for each anatomical region of examination. Data was statistically analyzed by 2x2 contingency table and chi square test.

RESULTS: Out of 1101 C.T examinations 421 studies have findings with appropriateness ratio of 38.2%. Among all C.T examinations appropriateness rate was highest for musculoskeletal and head neck studies which was 100 % .It was lowest for C.T brain examinations with appropriateness rate of only   34 % .

CONCLUSION: The appropriateness of C.T examination is not satisfactory .  C.T brain have highest number of unnecessary examinations. PAEC clearly gives  the National guidelines regarding radiation protection . One of the principle is   Justification of a radiological procedure which is in hand of a referring physician. A continued effort must be made to establish hospital guidelines to reduce the number of unnecessary examinations.


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