Computed tomography (CT) has shown significant value in diagnosis, management and disposition of patients in the acute care setting. With this has been a substantial rise in the utilisation of CT in emergency departments (ED) across the world consequently leading to increasing numbers of inappropriate scanning and exposure of patients to risks associated with radiation6,7. This audit aims to identify trends and pitfalls in the requesting of CT abdomen and pelvis (A/P) imaging at the Mackay Base Hospital (MBH) ED to guide the development of...

This was a retrospective audit of all CT abdomen and pelvis scans performed in the MBH ED during the month of June 2018 in conjunction with the medical imaging department. The data set was inclusive of all ages, sex, and presenting complaints. The data was analysed and clinical questions raised by identifying certain trends that suggest a change in clinical practice is required to reduce unnecessary scanning. An accompanying literature review was conducted to compare the identified trends from this audit with similar studies.

A total of 100 CT abomen and pelvis scans were performed in June 2018 within Mackay ED. The mean age was 59 (range 17 – 87). 32 CTs were performed on patients younger than 50 years of age. 55 and 45 CTs were for male and female patients respectively. 66 CTs were performed outside of usual working hours of a radiologist. 42 CTs showed no acute pathology which includes 17 scans that reported incidental findings not related to the patients presentation to ED. 75 CTs...

CT imaging has become a favourable investigation in an acute care setting as it reduces the reliance on a clinicians ability to make prompt and safe decisions based on clinical assessment alone. Consequently there has been a shift to a reliance on CT imaging over clinical based judgement leading to unnecessary scanning and increasing risks of radiation exposure to patients5. PerformingCT scans that report no acute pathology is unavoidable, but the high number of normal reported CT A/P scans performed at MBH ED in June...

The first author is a radiology PHO at the Mackay Base Hospital.

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