Teleradiology as a relevant indicator of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic management on emergency room activities: a nationwide worrisome survey

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 the...

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Main Authors: Jordan Vatele, Stéphanie Gentile, Vivien Thomson, Bénédicte Devictor, Marine Cloux, Nicolas Girouin, Flavie Bratan, Jean-François Bergerot, Mylène Seux, Nathan Banaste, Karim Tazarourte, Guillaume Gorincour
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2021-03-01
Series:Insights into Imaging
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13244-021-00964-0
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spelling doaj-1263ca3d341743c99c229f707cc958ef2021-03-11T11:58:20ZengSpringerOpenInsights into Imaging1869-41012021-03-011211910.1186/s13244-021-00964-0Teleradiology as a relevant indicator of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic management on emergency room activities: a nationwide worrisome surveyJordan Vatele0Stéphanie Gentile1Vivien Thomson2Bénédicte Devictor3Marine Cloux4Nicolas Girouin5Flavie Bratan6Jean-François Bergerot7Mylène Seux8Nathan Banaste9Karim Tazarourte10Guillaume Gorincour11Imadis TeleradiologyFaculté 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 UniversitéImadis TeleradiologyFaculté 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 UniversitéDeepLink MedicalImadis TeleradiologyImadis TeleradiologyImadis TeleradiologyImadis TeleradiologyImadis TeleradiologyEmergency Department, CHU Edouard Herriot, Hospices Civils de LyonImadis TeleradiologyAbstract 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.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13244-021-00964-0TeleradiologyCOVID-19Emergency serviceHospitalHealth services accessibility
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Jordan Vatele
Stéphanie Gentile
Vivien Thomson
Bénédicte Devictor
Marine Cloux
Nicolas Girouin
Flavie Bratan
Jean-François Bergerot
Mylène Seux
Nathan Banaste
Karim Tazarourte
Guillaume Gorincour
spellingShingle Jordan Vatele
Stéphanie Gentile
Vivien Thomson
Bénédicte Devictor
Marine Cloux
Nicolas Girouin
Flavie Bratan
Jean-François Bergerot
Mylène Seux
Nathan Banaste
Karim Tazarourte
Guillaume Gorincour
Teleradiology as a relevant indicator of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic management on emergency room activities: a nationwide worrisome survey
Insights into Imaging
Teleradiology
COVID-19
Emergency service
Hospital
Health services accessibility
author_facet Jordan Vatele
Stéphanie Gentile
Vivien Thomson
Bénédicte Devictor
Marine Cloux
Nicolas Girouin
Flavie Bratan
Jean-François Bergerot
Mylène Seux
Nathan Banaste
Karim Tazarourte
Guillaume Gorincour
author_sort Jordan Vatele
title Teleradiology as a relevant indicator of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic management on emergency room activities: a nationwide worrisome survey
title_short Teleradiology as a relevant indicator of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic management on emergency room activities: a nationwide worrisome survey
title_full Teleradiology as a relevant indicator of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic management on emergency room activities: a nationwide worrisome survey
title_fullStr Teleradiology as a relevant indicator of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic management on emergency room activities: a nationwide worrisome survey
title_full_unstemmed Teleradiology as a relevant indicator of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic management on emergency room activities: a nationwide worrisome survey
title_sort teleradiology as a relevant indicator of the impact of covid-19 pandemic management on emergency room activities: a nationwide worrisome survey
publisher SpringerOpen
series Insights into Imaging
issn 1869-4101
publishDate 2021-03-01
description 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.
topic Teleradiology
COVID-19
Emergency service
Hospital
Health services accessibility
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13244-021-00964-0
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