Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Describe the yield of computed tomography brain (CTB) scans in patients intubated for drug overdose. METHODS: Retrospective descriptive study using existing registry data from two Australian EDs between February 2021 and June 2022. RESULTS: Two hundred and six patients were intubated; 159 (77%) received a post-intubation CTB scan. Of these, 38 out of 159 (24%) had a documented indication (i.e. head injury and seizure) for their scans, with a yield of 5.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.5-17%). Of the 121 out of 159 (76%) patients without an indication, the yield of CTB was 0% (95% CI = 0-3%). CONCLUSIONS: Routine imaging of patients intubated for overdose without clinical indication is unjustified.
Source: Emergency Medicine Australasia
Institutions: Gold Coast Hospital, Griffith University, Bond University
Language: English
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4402991868