Analysis of the chest X-ray conference in an intensive care unit

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Federolf, G.^{a; *} | Syré, P.^a | Groß-Alltag, F.^a | Wiedeck, H.^b | Bader, Ch.^c | Friesdorf, W.^a

Affiliations: [a] ATV Section, Department of Anaesthesiology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany | [b] Intensive Care Unit, Department of Anaesthesiology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany | [c] Department of Radiology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author. Tel: 0049-731-502-7918, Fax: 0049-731-502-6699

Abstract: Bed chest X-rays carried out in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) are an important means of patient monitoring. To get the starting points for standardization of the documentation of X-ray findings, we examined course and contents of the daily X-ray conference in an ICU. We video-taped the conferences and registered its vocabulary. Mean entire duration to comment on the X-rays of one patient was 150 s. On an average, discussion between radiologist and anaesthetist lasted 40 s, dictation of findings 50 s. Sorting and viewing the X-rays took 60 s. Main disruptions were related to non-availability of X-rays and clinical patient data. Clinical information reported during the discussion is rarely mentioned in the dictated findings.

Keywords: Diagnostic X-ray, Documentation, Information systems, Intensive care units

DOI: 10.3233/THC-1994-2208

Journal: Technology and Health Care, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 141-146, 1994