A novel multiple-trauma CT-scanning protocol using patient repositioning.
Emergency CT examination is considered to be a trade-off between a short scan time and the acceptance of artifacts. This study evaluates the influence of patient repositioning on artifacts and scan time. Eighty-three consecutive multiple-trauma patients were included in this prospective study. Patients were examined without repositioning (group 1, n=39) or with patient rotation to feet-first with arms raised for scanning the chest and abdomen/pelvis (group 2, n=44). The mean scan time was 21 min in group 1 and 25 min in group 2 (P=0.01). The mean repositioning time in group 2 was 8 min. Significantly, more artifacts were observed in group 1 (with a repeated scan in 7%) than in group 2 (P=0.0001). This novel multiple- trauma CT-scanning protocol with patient repositioning achieves a higher image quality with significantly fewer artifacts than without repositioning but increases scan time slightly.
Hoppe
Hanno
H
Department of Interventional and Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 4, CH-3010, Bern, Switzerland.
Vock
Peter
P
Bonel
Harald Marcel
HM
Ozdoba
Christoph
C
Gralla
Jan
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016477:Artifacts; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011187:Posture; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*