Jordan Vatele1,2, Stéphanie Gentile3, Vivien Thomson1,4, Bénédicte Devictor3, Marine Cloux5, Nicolas Girouin1,6, Flavie Bratan1,7, Jean-François Bergerot1,8, Mylène Seux1, Nathan Banaste1,9, Karim Tazarourte10,11, Guillaume Gorincour12,13. 1. Imadis Teleradiology, Lyon, Bordeaux, Marseille, France. 2. Department of Radiology, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France. 3. Faculté de Médecine - Secteur Timone, EA 3279: CEReSS -Centre d'Etude et de recherche sur les Services de Santé et la Qualité de Vie, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France. 4. Ramsay Générale de Santé, Clinique de la Sauvegarde, Lyon, France. 5. DeepLink Medical, Lyon, France. 6. Norimagerie, Caluire et Cuire, France. 7. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging, Centre Hospitalier Saint-Joseph Saint-Luc, Lyon, France. 8. Ramsay Générale de Santé, Clinique Convert, Bourg-en-Bresse, France. 9. Department of Radiology, Hopital Nord-Ouest, Villefranche-sur-Saône, France. 10. Emergency Department, CHU Edouard Herriot, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France. 11. EA 7425 HESPER, Université Lyon 1, Lyon, France. 12. Imadis Teleradiology, Lyon, Bordeaux, Marseille, France. g.gorincour@imadis.fr. 13. ELSAN, Clinique Bouchard, Marseille, France. g.gorincour@imadis.fr.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of COVID-19's lockdown on radiological examinations in emergency services. METHODS: Retrospective, multicentre analysis of radiological examinations requested, via our teleradiology network, from 2017 to 2020 during two timeframes (calendar weeks 5-8 and then 12-15). We included CT scans or MRIs performed for strokes, multiple traumas (Body-CT), cranial traumas (CTr) and acute non-traumatic abdominal pain (ANTAP). We evaluated the number and percentages of examinations performed, of those with a pathological conclusion, and of examinations involving the chest. RESULTS: Our study included 25 centres in 2017, 29 in 2018, 43 in 2019 and 59 in 2020. From 2017 to 2019, the percentages of examinations were constant, which was also true for chest CTs. Each centre's number of examinations, gender distribution and patient ages were unchanged. In 2020, examinations significantly decreased: suspected strokes decreased by 36% (1052 vs 675, p < 0.001), Body-CT by 62% (349 vs 134, p < 0.001), CTr by 52% (1853 vs 895, p < 0.001) and for ANTAP, appendicitis decreased by 38% (45 vs 90, not statistically significant (NS)) sigmoiditis by 44% (98 vs 55, NS), and renal colic by 23% (376 vs 288, NS). The number of examinations per centre decreased by 13% (185.5 vs 162.5, p < 0.001), whereas the number of examinations of the "chest" region increased by 170% (1205 vs 3766, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Teleradiology enabled us to monitor the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic management on emergency activities, showing a global decrease in the population's use of care.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of COVID-19's lockdown on radiological examinations in emergency services. METHODS: Retrospective, multicentre analysis of radiological examinations requested, via our teleradiology network, from 2017 to 2020 during two timeframes (calendar weeks 5-8 and then 12-15). We included CT scans or MRIs performed for strokes, multiple traumas (Body-CT), cranial traumas (CTr) and acute non-traumatic abdominal pain (ANTAP). We evaluated the number and percentages of examinations performed, of those with a pathological conclusion, and of examinations involving the chest. RESULTS: Our study included 25 centres in 2017, 29 in 2018, 43 in 2019 and 59 in 2020. From 2017 to 2019, the percentages of examinations were constant, which was also true for chest CTs. Each centre's number of examinations, gender distribution and patient ages were unchanged. In 2020, examinations significantly decreased: suspected strokes decreased by 36% (1052 vs 675, p < 0.001), Body-CT by 62% (349 vs 134, p < 0.001), CTr by 52% (1853 vs 895, p < 0.001) and for ANTAP, appendicitis decreased by 38% (45 vs 90, not statistically significant (NS)) sigmoiditis by 44% (98 vs 55, NS), and renal colic by 23% (376 vs 288, NS). The number of examinations per centre decreased by 13% (185.5 vs 162.5, p < 0.001), whereas the number of examinations of the "chest" region increased by 170% (1205 vs 3766, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Teleradiology enabled us to monitor the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic management on emergency activities, showing a global decrease in the population's use of care.
Entities:
Keywords:
COVID-19; Emergency service; Health services accessibility; Hospital; Teleradiology
Authors: Stanley Chu; Mitchell Collins; Maurice Pradella; Martin Kramer; Rachel Davids; Mathis Zimmerman; Sarah Fopma; Alexander Korutz; Blair Faber; Ryan Avery; James Carr; Bradley D Allen; Michael Markl Journal: Eur J Radiol Open Date: 2022-10-05