BMC medical imaging
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BMC medical imaging · Mar 2021
Observational StudyPrescription practice and clinical utility of chest radiographs in a pediatric intensive care unit: a prospective observational study.
Chest radiograph (CXR) prescribing pattern and practice vary widely among pediatric intensive care units (PICU). 'On demand' approach is increasingly recommended as against daily 'routine' CXRs; however, the real-world practice is largely unknown. ⋯ On demand prescription was the prevalent practice in our PICU. Most non-ventilated children underwent only one CXR while duration of PICU stay and the number of devices determined the number of CXRs in mechanically ventilated children. Quality improvement strategies should concentrate on the process of acquisition of images and limiting the radiation exposure to unwanted body parts.