How Does ED Observation Time Affect CT Use in Children with Minor Head Injury?

Every hour of observation reduced the use of CT by 70%.

To determine if duration of emergency department (ED) observation affects rate of brain computed tomography (CT) utilization, investigators prospectively evaluated children (age, <18 years) presenting to a pediatric ED within 24 hours of minor blunt head trauma (Glasgow Coma Scale score of 14 or 15).

During 20 months, 1381 children (age, <2 years; 37%) were enrolled; 271 (20%) underwent CT and 676 (49%) were observed before CT decision making, at the discretion of the treating physician. The remainder were discharged home or had a CT scan immediately after evaluation. The overall odds of receiving a CT was 0.1 in children who were observed versus not observed.

In multivariate analysis, every hour of ED observation (median observation time, 2.…

Reviewing Author

Katherine Bakes, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier)

Grant/Research SupportDepartment of Justice

Editorial BoardsEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier); Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (Elsevier)

Katherine Bakes, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier)

Grant/Research SupportDepartment of Justice

Editorial BoardsEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier); Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (Elsevier)

How Does ED Observation Time Affect CT Use in Children with Minor Head Injury?

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Reviewing Author