RESUMEN
PURPOSE: The objective of our IAEA-coordinated international study was to assess CT practices and radiation doses from multiple hospitals across several African countries. METHODS: The study included 13 hospitals from Africa which contributed information on minimum of 20 consecutive patients who underwent head, chest, and/or abdomen-pelvis CT. Prior to the data recording step, all hospitals had a mandatory one-hour training on the best practices in recording the relevant data elements. The recorded data elements included patient age, weight, protocol name, scanner information, acquisition parameters, and radiation dose descriptors including phase-specific CT dose index volume (CTDIvol in mGy) and dose length product (DLP in mGy.cm). We estimated the median and interquartile range of body-region specific CTDIvol and DLP and compared data across sites and countries using the Kruskal-Wallis H Test for non-normal distribution, analysis of variance. RESULTS: A total of 1061 patients (mean age 50 ± 19 years) were included in the study. 16 % of CT exams had no stated clinical indications for CT examinations of the head (32/343, 9 %), chest (50/281, 18 %), abdomen-pelvis (67/243, 28 %), and/or chest-abdomen-pelvis CT (24/194, 12 %). Most hospitals used multiphase CT protocols for abdomen-pelvis (9/11 hospitals) and chest CT (10/12 hospitals), regardless of clinical indications. Total median DLP values for head (953 mGy.cm), chest (405 mGy.cm), and abdomen-pelvis (1195 mGy.cm) CT were above the UK, German, and American College of Radiology Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs). CONCLUSIONS: Concerning variations in CT practices and protocols across several hospitals in Africa were demonstrated, emphasizing the need for better protocol optimization to improve patient safety.
Asunto(s)
Agencias Internacionales , Dosis de Radiación , Tomografía Computarizada por Rayos X , Humanos , África , Persona de Mediana Edad , Masculino , Femenino , Adulto , Energía Nuclear , AncianoRESUMEN
Obstetric ultrasound performed according to standards from its prescription to the report is a guarantee of quality. The aim of our study was to take stock of obstetrical ultrasounds in order to make rational the ultrasound follow-ups of pregnancy. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection through the reports of obstetrical ultrasounds performed from the 1st January 2016 to 31st December 2018. Of the 13,487 ultrasounds in the study period, 2,355 were obstetric ultrasounds, constituting 1746% of the ultrasound activity. The mean gestational age was 27.54 years (± 6.19). The CHU Bogodogo was the requesting structure for 86.88%. Paramedics were prescribers in 66.47%. Third trimester ultrasounds made up 57.06%. Gestational age in 12.99% was greater than 37 weeks while in 66.37% gestational age was greater than 24 weeks. Prenatal follow-up was indicated in 54.48%. Pregnancies were progressive in 97.49%. Twin pregnancies represent 2.72% and ultrasound pathological pregnancies 11.80%. Obstetric Doppler was performed in 2.12% with pre-eclampsia as the main indication (52%). There was 1.18% malformation with nervous system involvement in 60.71%. Through this inventory, the training of prescribers of obstetric ultrasound appears essential. The establishment of an observatory of obstetric ultrasound practices would be an asset for the quality of these medical examinations.