Abstract
Background
Trauma patients are exposed to potentially high levels of low-dose radiation during
radiologic studies.
Objectives
To assess the cumulative effective dose (CED) of radiation exposure (RE) in 177 successive
patients admitted to a trauma service from January 1 through February 28, 2006.
Results
Patients received a total of 1505 radiographs and 400 computed tomography (CT) scans
in the study period. The CED was 14.56 mSv (0.97 mSv radiographs, 13.59 mSv CT scans)
per patient total length of stay (LOS). CED averaged 8.66 mSv in the first hour and
11.76 mSv in the first 24 h after arrival. The most commonly performed CT scan was
brain (n = 147), followed by abdomen and pelvis (n = 80), and cervical spine (n =
69). CT scans of the brain and cervical spine were the most commonly performed combined
imaging tests (35%). Twelve percent of patients received no radiographs, and 15% received
no CT scans. Six or more CT scans were done in 6% of patients. RE increased with longer
LOS (> 6 days vs. 3–5 days vs. 1 day, p < 0.05). “Pan-scans” (a combination of CTs of the brain, cervical spine, chest, abdomen,
and pelvis) were done in 13% (n = 23) of patients. There was a higher total RE from
CT scans (25.09 mSv ± 19.48 mSv vs. 4.93 mSv ± 14.20 mSv) in patients with injury
severity score (ISS) > 9 vs. ≤ 9 ( p < 0.0001). First hour and first 24-h RE rates from radiographs were lower in patients
younger than 15 years vs. 15–45 years and older-than-45-year age cohorts (p < 0.05).
Conclusions
In this study, CED was 14.56 mSv per patient. CT scans accounted for 21% of radiologic
studies and 93% of CED. There was a higher CED rate in patients with ISS > 9 and longer
LOS.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 03, 2011
Accepted:
March 16,
2011
Received in revised form:
August 16,
2010
Received:
January 19,
2010
Identification
Copyright
© 2011 Published by Elsevier Inc.
