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MP48: Head computerized tomography overuse in adults with mild traumatic brain injury in a single Quebec emergency department

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 May 2020

S. Thibault
Affiliation:
Universite Laval, Lévis, QC
V. Gélinas
Affiliation:
Universite Laval, Lévis, QC
S. Turcotte
Affiliation:
Universite Laval, Lévis, QC
A. Pépin
Affiliation:
Universite Laval, Lévis, QC
R. Renald
Affiliation:
Universite Laval, Lévis, QC
N. Le Sage
Affiliation:
Universite Laval, Lévis, QC
P. Plante
Affiliation:
Universite Laval, Lévis, QC
H. Witteman
Affiliation:
Universite Laval, Lévis, QC
F. Légaré
Affiliation:
Universite Laval, Lévis, QC
L. Sauvé
Affiliation:
Universite Laval, Lévis, QC
M. Gagnon
Affiliation:
Universite Laval, Lévis, QC
P. Archambault
Affiliation:
Universite Laval, Lévis, QC

Abstract

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Introduction: Choosing Wisely Canada has reported rates of unnecessary head computed tomography (CT) scans for low-risk mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) patients in Ontario and Alberta ranging from 14% to 46%. Local data for Quebec is currently not available. We sought to estimate the overuse of CT scans among adults with mTBI in the emergency department (ED) of a single level II trauma center in Quebec. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of adults who visited the ED of Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis from 04/01/2016 to 03/31/2017. Using an administrative database (Med-GPS, Montreal), we randomly sampled ED patients aged over 18 that had an initial Glasgow Coma Scale score of 13 to 15 and had suffered from a mTBI in the last 24 hours. We excluded patients with an unclear history of trauma, a bleeding disorder/anticoagulation, a history of seizure, any acute focal neurological deficit, a return visit for reassessment of the same injury, unstable vital signs, or a pregnancy. Data was extracted by two reviewers who analyzed separate charts. They used the Canadian CT Head Rule (CCHR) to determine relevance of CT scans. Overuse was determined if a patient without any high or medium risk CCHR criteria underwent a scan. A third reviewer verified a 10% random sample of the data extraction for each primary reviewer and inter-rater reliability was assessed using the kappa statistic. Results: From the 942 eligible mTBI patients, we randomly selected 418 patient charts to review, of which 217 met all inclusion and exclusion criteria (56% were men and the mean age was 48 years old (SD = 21)). Among included patients, 101 were determined as low risk. The overuse proportion was 26% (26/101), 95% CI [18-35]. Two CT scans were assessed as abnormal, but none revealed life-threatening injuries and only one was considered clinically significant with a subdural hematoma of 9 mm. Inter-rater reliability was substantial to perfect (kappa = 0.6 and 1.0) for each primary reviewer. Conclusion: We identified head CT scan overuse in this ED. This will support local quality improvement initiatives to reduce unnecessary head CT scans for adults with mTBI.

Type
Moderated Poster Presentations
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians 2020