Have the UK Pediatric Trauma Protocols resulted in a reduction in chest computed tomography imaging for children presenting with major blunt trauma?

Abstract Objectives To observe variation in imaging requests after publication of the Royal College of Radiologists UK Paediatric Trauma Protocols in 2014, recommending limited use of thoracic computed tomography (CT) to appropriately clinically risk stratified children. Method A retrospective obser...

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Main Authors: Samantha Negus, Omar Bouamra, Damian Roland
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-10-01
Series:Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.13041
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author Samantha Negus
Omar Bouamra
Damian Roland
author_facet Samantha Negus
Omar Bouamra
Damian Roland
author_sort Samantha Negus
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objectives To observe variation in imaging requests after publication of the Royal College of Radiologists UK Paediatric Trauma Protocols in 2014, recommending limited use of thoracic computed tomography (CT) to appropriately clinically risk stratified children. Method A retrospective observational study using data from the Trauma Audit & Research Network in the United Kingdom, for children (0–16 years of age) for the years 2012–2021. Percentages were calculated to facilitate comparison between year groups (under 1 year of age, 1–10 years of age, 11–15 years of age), and CT imaging categories reviewed: (1) whole‐body CT (WBCT); (2) abdominopelvic CT (CTAP) with chest radiograph (CXR); (3) chest, abdomen, and pelvic CT (CTCAP) with CXR; (4) CTCAP without CXR; and (5) other imaging. Results Increased use of the recommended protocol (CXR with CTAP) was observed after guidance publication but was not sustained: infants under 1 year old, 0.0% in 2012, 7% in 2017, 0.0% in 2021; 1–10‐year‐olds, 4% in 2012, 13.9% in 2017, 5.5% in 2021; 11–15‐year‐olds, 7.1% in 2012, 10.2% in 2017, 6.6% in 2021. Requests for WBCT increased from 2012–2021 (all age groups, 2.4%, 2012, to 5.3%, 2021) and requests for CTCAP were consistently at a higher level than that of the recommended protocol. Conclusion The increased use of CXR with CTAP after publication of the guidelines, was not sustained with a decreasing trend observed from ∼2017, raising concern for the ionizing radiation burden in this population.
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spelling doaj-art-0cc58428a0c84112bbdb335c9eaa24972025-08-20T02:03:01ZengElsevierJournal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open2688-11522023-10-0145n/an/a10.1002/emp2.13041Have the UK Pediatric Trauma Protocols resulted in a reduction in chest computed tomography imaging for children presenting with major blunt trauma?Samantha Negus0Omar Bouamra1Damian Roland2Radiology Department East Surrey Hospital Redhill Surrey UKThe Trauma Audit & Research Network University of Manchester Manchester UKPaediatric Emergency Medicine Leicester Academic (PEMLA) Group Children's Emergency Department Leicester Royal Infirmary Leicester UKAbstract Objectives To observe variation in imaging requests after publication of the Royal College of Radiologists UK Paediatric Trauma Protocols in 2014, recommending limited use of thoracic computed tomography (CT) to appropriately clinically risk stratified children. Method A retrospective observational study using data from the Trauma Audit & Research Network in the United Kingdom, for children (0–16 years of age) for the years 2012–2021. Percentages were calculated to facilitate comparison between year groups (under 1 year of age, 1–10 years of age, 11–15 years of age), and CT imaging categories reviewed: (1) whole‐body CT (WBCT); (2) abdominopelvic CT (CTAP) with chest radiograph (CXR); (3) chest, abdomen, and pelvic CT (CTCAP) with CXR; (4) CTCAP without CXR; and (5) other imaging. Results Increased use of the recommended protocol (CXR with CTAP) was observed after guidance publication but was not sustained: infants under 1 year old, 0.0% in 2012, 7% in 2017, 0.0% in 2021; 1–10‐year‐olds, 4% in 2012, 13.9% in 2017, 5.5% in 2021; 11–15‐year‐olds, 7.1% in 2012, 10.2% in 2017, 6.6% in 2021. Requests for WBCT increased from 2012–2021 (all age groups, 2.4%, 2012, to 5.3%, 2021) and requests for CTCAP were consistently at a higher level than that of the recommended protocol. Conclusion The increased use of CXR with CTAP after publication of the guidelines, was not sustained with a decreasing trend observed from ∼2017, raising concern for the ionizing radiation burden in this population.https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.13041chest injurieschildcomputed tomographyprotocol compliance
spellingShingle Samantha Negus
Omar Bouamra
Damian Roland
Have the UK Pediatric Trauma Protocols resulted in a reduction in chest computed tomography imaging for children presenting with major blunt trauma?
Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open
chest injuries
child
computed tomography
protocol compliance
title Have the UK Pediatric Trauma Protocols resulted in a reduction in chest computed tomography imaging for children presenting with major blunt trauma?
title_full Have the UK Pediatric Trauma Protocols resulted in a reduction in chest computed tomography imaging for children presenting with major blunt trauma?
title_fullStr Have the UK Pediatric Trauma Protocols resulted in a reduction in chest computed tomography imaging for children presenting with major blunt trauma?
title_full_unstemmed Have the UK Pediatric Trauma Protocols resulted in a reduction in chest computed tomography imaging for children presenting with major blunt trauma?
title_short Have the UK Pediatric Trauma Protocols resulted in a reduction in chest computed tomography imaging for children presenting with major blunt trauma?
title_sort have the uk pediatric trauma protocols resulted in a reduction in chest computed tomography imaging for children presenting with major blunt trauma
topic chest injuries
child
computed tomography
protocol compliance
url https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.13041
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AT damianroland havetheukpediatrictraumaprotocolsresultedinareductioninchestcomputedtomographyimagingforchildrenpresentingwithmajorblunttrauma