ACUTE POLYTRAUMA PATIENTS IN THE EMERGENC Y ROOM - ANALYSIS OF THE SPECTRUM AND TIME NEEDED FOR DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGICAL WORK-UP

With a prospective assessment of 140 emergency-room patients, we regis tered the conventional radiological examinations (CR), ultrasound (US) and computer tomographies (CT), including the duration of the examina tions, transportation and diagnostic free time. Results: CR: 98.6% (av erage 8.5 radiographs per patient), US 78.6%, CT 67.8%. Duration: CR a verage 20.3 min (range 1-80 min), US average 6.5 min (range 2-15 min), CT average 16.9 min (range 12-135 min). The entire time spent in the primary diagnostic work-up, including CT: average 79.4 min (only CR an d US average 49.1 min). Diagnostic free time, including CT: average 31 .9 min, without CT average 19.2 min. Time for transportation and repos itioning: average 14.5 min. When a CT is indicated, the radiological d iagnostic work-up will increase as a result of waiting and transportat ion. The patient also suffers because of more repositioning procedures .