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Is computerized tomography of trauma patients associated with a transfer delay to a regional trauma centre?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 May 2015

Justin Onzuka ,
Andrew Worster  and
Bill McCreadie
Justin Onzuka
Affiliation:
Division of Emergency Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.
Andrew Worster*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont., and the Department of Emergency Medicine, Hamilton Health Sciences and McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.
*
Department of Emergency Medicine, Hamilton Health Sciences & McMaster University, 237 Barton St. E., Hamilton ON L8N 3Z5; worster@mcmaster.ca

Abstract

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Objective:

Many trauma patients undergo advanced diagnostic imaging before being transferred to a regional trauma centre, but this step can delay definitive care. This study compared the length-of-stay at the primary hospital between patients who underwent CT scans and those who did not.

Methods:

This was a medical record review of all consecutive trauma cases transferred to a regional trauma centre servicing 2.2 million people during a 2-year period. Two trained abstractors, blind to each other's results, collected data independently.

Results:

Of 249 cases, 79 (31%) underwent a CT scan before being transferred. There was no significant difference in the Injury Severity Score between the 2 groups (p = 0.16), yet the CT group remained at the primary hospital approximately 90 minutes longer before transfer (p < 0.001).

Conclusion:

A significant proportion of trauma patients transferred to a regional trauma centre undergo CT scanning at the primary hospital. These patients experience an increased length-of-stay of 90 minutes, on average, before transfer. This appears to be a common practice that does not appear to contribute to definitive trauma management.

Keywords

traumatransfer delaymedical record reviewcomputerized tomographysensitivity analysis
Type
Original Research • Recherche originale
Information
Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine , Volume 10 , Issue 3 , May 2008 , pp. 205 - 208
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians 2008

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