Feasibility of instructing radiology technologists in the performance of gastrointestinal fluoroscopy.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine if dedicated gastrointestinal technologists could be trained to properly perform esophagography and double-contrast barium enema examinations.


METHODS
Ninety-four patients undergoing double-contrast barium enema examinations and 123 patients undergoing esophagographic examinations were included in the study. The study was conducted over a 4-month period, with examinations performed by eight gastrointestinal technologists, 10 radiology residents, and four staff radiologists. Four random lists were generated for each set of examinations. Each staff gastrointestinal radiologist, who was unaware of who had performed the examination, independently scored the representative radiographs.


RESULTS
For the double-contrast barium enema examinations, no statistically significant differences were found between the technologists and residents for amount of barium used, degree of distention, cecal opacification, and quality of spot radiographs. The technologist-performed examinations had a statistically significant lower mean fluoroscopy time (3.2 min, compared with 4.0 min for staff radiologists and 5.7 min for residents). For the esophagrams, no statistically significant differences between technologists and residents were found for single-contrast esophagrams; radiographs of the gastric cardia; assessment of motility, reflux, and transit of a solid bolus; and fluoroscopy time. Double-contrast esophagrams obtained by technologists received a better mean score than did those of the residents.


CONCLUSIONS
Radiology technologists can be trained to perform high-quality esophagography and double-contrast barium enema examinations without an unacceptably high radiation dose.
Davidson
J C
JC
Division of Radiology, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44195-5103, USA.
Einstein
D M
DM
Baker
M E
ME
Herts
B R
BR
Remer
E M
EM
Kolonick
R M
RM
Doinoff
C J
CJ
Lieber
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001466:Barium Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002299:Cardia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002432:Cecum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004064:Digestive System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004733:Enema; D004947:Esophagus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education; D013679:Technology, Radiologic / Q000193:education*; D013997:Time Factors
D003287:Contrast Media; D001466:Barium Sulfate