• Jarone Lee, Brian Geyer, Leily Naraghi, Haytham M A Kaafarani, Matthias Eikermann, D Dante Yeh, Ednan K Bajwa, J Perren Cobb, and Ali S Raja.
• Departments of Surgery and Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Electronic address: Lee.jarone@mgh.harvard.edu.
• J Crit Care. 2015 Jun 1;30(3):460-4.

PurposeThere has been both greater recognition and scrutiny of the increased use of advanced imaging. Our aim was to determine whether there has been a change over time in the use of computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound (US) modalities in the intensive care units (ICUs).Materials And MethodsA retrospective review of 75657 admissions to 20 ICUs was conducted. Results were analyzed with multivariate linear, negative binomial, and Poisson regressions. Primary outcomes were rates of use of CT, MRI, and US per 1000 ICU admissions every 6 months. Secondary outcomes were changes in radiology use associated with impacts on mortality, hospital length of stay (LOS), ICU LOS, and hospital charges.ResultsThe rate of imaging use decreased by 13.5% between 2007 and 2011 (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 0.982; P < .001). Most of this decrease was by CTs (21.0%; IRR, 0.973; P < .001). Use of MRI decreased by 6.0% (IRR, 0.991; P = .04), whereas US increased by 18.9% (IRR, 1.012; P < .001). The charges associated with imaging decreased by $74 per ICU admission, which would save an estimated $1.2 million in charges during 2011. Decreased imaging was not associated with changes in mortality, hospital, and ICU LOS.ConclusionAdvanced imaging use decreased for 5 years in the ICUs, resulting in decreased charges without negative effects on patient outcomes.Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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