Should the Radiologist Always Request a Blood Test Before an Emergency CT Scan in Children

Renal failure is relatively common in children presenting to the emergency department, suggesting that the assumption of normal renal function is not always valid. Although some computed tomography (CT) scans necessitate the use of intravenous contrast, one should probably consider whether a blood t...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Thomas Saliba, Gervais Kogni Fokou, Paolo Simoni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Ubiquity Press 2024-01-01
Series:Journal of the Belgian Society of Radiology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://account.jbsr.be/index.php/up-j-jbsr/article/view/3271
Description
Summary:Renal failure is relatively common in children presenting to the emergency department, suggesting that the assumption of normal renal function is not always valid. Although some computed tomography (CT) scans necessitate the use of intravenous contrast, one should probably consider whether a blood test is necessary to assess the patient’s renal function and possibly consider other imaging modalities before proceeding. With no pediatric-specific guidelines and no validated pediatric prevention strategies, further research is needed to establish clear recommendations for contrast-enhanced exams in stable and unstable pediatric patients with unknown renal function.
ISSN:2514-8281