Retrospective Study of CT Scan Indications in Adult Emergency Departments

NCT06985914 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2025-CHITS-009
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 600
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The use of CT scans has significantly improved the diagnosis of various pathologies in emergency departments. However, it is also associated with several drawbacks, including high costs and a proven carcinogenic risk to patients, depending on the dose of radiation received. Furthermore, the ecological impact of this imaging modality should not be overlooked, as each CT scan generates approximately 2 kg of CO₂, contributing to global warming. These concerns underscore the importance of ensuring that CT scans are performed only when clinically justified. This context motivated our study: a retrospective, descriptive analysis conducted in the emergency department of Sainte Musse Hospital over a 28-day period in 2024. The selected days are distributed to reflect an equivalent representation of weekdays, weekends, and public holidays, as well as seasonal variations. Our primary objective is to calculate the proportion of CT scans that were appropriately justified. The investigators will assess three key metrics:

• The rate of CT scans justified based on official clinical guidelines.
• The rate of CT scans justified by a change in patient management.
• The rate of CT scans performed at the request of a specialist consulted during the emergency department visit. The ultimate aim of our study is to evaluate the extent of potential overuse of CT scans in the emergency setting and, if applicable, to raise awareness among emergency physicians regarding the importance of balancing clinical benefit against potential risks for the patient.

Conditions

CT Scan

Keywords

CT Scan; Recommandations; Emergency; patent management

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• rate of justified CT scans performed in adult emergency settings

  The rate of justified emergency CT scans is defined as the proportion of CT scans performed in the adult emergency department that are either compliant with the recommendations of the Société Française de Réanimation (SFR) and/or have had a documented impact on patient management, relative to the total number of CT scans performed during a randomly selected sample of 28 days over a one-year period.

  up to 12 months

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Evaluate the rate of justified emergency CT scans according to official recommendations.

  up to 12 months

• Evaluate the rate of emergency CT scans assessed as having had an impact on patient management

  up to 12 months

• evaluate the rate of emergency CT scans, requested by specialists

  up to 12 months

Study Arms (1)

CT scan patient cohort

Adult patient who received a CT scan in the emergency department in 2024

Procedure: CT scan

Interventions

CT scan PROCEDURE

CT scan in the emergency department

CT scan patient cohort

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Adult patients (≥ 18 years) who received a CT scan during a visit to the emergency department of Hôpital Ste Musse during the period 01/01/2024 to 31/12/2024.

You may qualify if:

• Adults (\> 18 years)
• CT scans performed in emergencies in 2024 at Hôpital Ste Musse -

You may not qualify if:

• CT scans performed outside the emergency department
• Patients managed through the neurovascular pathway
• Patients under protective supervision (e.g., guardianship or legal protection)
• Patients who refuse to participate in the research -

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Toulon La Seyne sur Mer: lead

Study Sites (1)

CHITS

Toulon, VAR, 83000, France

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Emergencies

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Disease Attributes; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Tiziana Platino, MD

  CHITS

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Central Study Contacts

Asmaa JOBIC

CONTACT

04 83 77 20 61; Asmaa.jobic@ch-toulon.fr

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: RETROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 15, 2025
• First Posted: May 22, 2025
• Study Start: May 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: April 1, 2026
• Study Completion: April 1, 2026
• Last Updated: April 14, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Locations

FR (1)