Todd Anthony Mulderink MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

William W. Boonn MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Sachin Puranik, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Charles Dunlap, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Susan Hilton MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Nicholas Papanicolaou MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Regina O'Connell Redfern RT(R), Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Steven Chester Horii MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

et al, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

The implementation of multi-detector CT has brought faster scanning and reconstruction times making possible improved workflow and increased throughput. While this may lead to improved efficiency, it may also create increased workloads. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of multi-detector scanning on CT utilization in a large urban academic emergency department.

A single-detector CT scanner (GE CTI, GE Healthcare) in our emergency department was replaced in December 2003 by a multi-detector scanner (Siemens Sensation 16, Siemens) during a scheduled upgrade. A retrospective query of both our RIS and PACS databases was performed to determine all emergency department CT examinations performed over two 12 month time periods: the final 12 months of single-detector scanning and the first 12 months of multi-detector scanning. Comparisons for the two time periods included the number of patients scanned, the number of studies, and the number of images per patient. Studies were stratified by type. T-tests were used to determine statistically significant differences among parameters.

The total number of patients scanned in our ED increased 65% following the implementation of multi-detector CT. The total number of studies performed increased 21%. Specifically, CT head increased 2.9%, CT abdomen increased 21.0%, CT cervical spine increased 103.0%, and CT chest increased 172.9%. The number of images per patient increased significantly from an average of 151.8 (SD 181.0) with single-detector CT to 267.1 (SD 321.4) with multi-detector CT (p<0.005).

CT utilization in our emergency department increased following the implementation of multi-detector CT. While there was an increase in the number of patients scanned, the number of studies performed rose less dramatically. This may reflect an overall general increased utilization of CT or a lower threshold for ordering. Multi-detector scanning also increased CT workloads with a significant increase in the number of images per study.

The implementation of multi-detector CT has brought faster scanning and reconstruction times making possible improved workflow and increased throughput. While this may lead to improved efficiency, it may also create increased workloads. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of multi-detector scanning on CT utilization in a large urban academic emergency department.

A single-detector CT scanner (GE CTI, GE Healthcare) in our emergency department was replaced in December 2003 by a multi-detector scanner (Siemens Sensation 16, Siemens) during a scheduled upgrade. A retrospective query of both our RIS and PACS databases was performed to determine all emergency department CT examinations performed over two 12 month time periods: the final 12 months of single-detector scanning and the first 12 months of multi-detector scanning. Comparisons for the two time periods included the number of patients scanned, the number of studies, and the number of images per patient. Studies were stratified by type. T-tests were used to determine statistically significant differences among parameters.

The total number of patients scanned in our ED increased 65% following the implementation of multi-detector CT. The total number of studies performed increased 21%. Specifically, CT head increased 2.9%, CT abdomen increased 21.0%, CT cervical spine increased 103.0%, and CT chest increased 172.9%. The number of images per patient increased significantly from an average of 151.8 (SD 181.0) with single-detector CT to 267.1 (SD 321.4) with multi-detector CT (p<0.005).

CT utilization in our emergency department increased following the implementation of multi-detector CT. While there was an increase in the number of patients scanned, the number of studies performed rose less dramatically. This may reflect an overall general increased utilization of CT or a lower threshold for ordering. Multi-detector scanning also increased CT workloads with a significant increase in the number of images per study.

Mulderink, T, Boonn, W, Puranik, S, Dunlap, C, Hilton, S, Papanicolaou, N, Redfern, R, Horii, S, et al, , Utilization of CT in the Emergency Department: The Impact of Multidetector CT.  Radiological Society of North America 2005 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 27 - December 2, 2005 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2005/4411487.html