CTC service heterogeneity and design of a workforce calculator

AIM

To determine the level of heterogeneity in delivery of computed tomography (CT) colonography services and develop a workforce calculator that accommodates the variation identified.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A national survey, based on the "WHO workforce indicators of staffing need", established activity standards for essential tasks in delivery of the service. From these data a workforce calculator was designed to guide the required staffing and equipment resource by service size.

RESULTS

Activity standards were established as mode responses >70%. Service homogeneity was greater in areas where professional standards and guidance were available. The mean service size was 1,101. Did not attend (DNA) rates were lower where direct booking was available (p<0.0001). Service sizes were larger where radiographer reporting was embedded in reporting paradigms (p<0.024).

CONCLUSION

The survey identified benefits of radiographer-led direct booking and reporting. The workforce calculator derived from the survey provides a framework to guide the resourcing of expansion while maintaining standards.

What is the impact of CT colonography interpretation by advanced practitioner radiographers on delivery of the 28 day colorectal cancer target?

INTRODUCTION

CT Colonography (CTC) is an indicated test to assess the colon and rectum for evidence of polyps and neoplasms. The advanced practitioner radiographer (APR) is increasingly involved with the entirety of the radiology pathway including procedural modification, preliminary clinical evaluation (PCE) and multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meeting notification of high risk colonic pathologies.

METHODS

A retrospective audit of the Radiology Information System (RIS) was undertaken at a large secondary care centre, 12 months of data of 119 consecutive patients who had undergone CTC with summary coded reports of high risk pathology were included for analysis. Analysis of accuracy of procedural modification, PCE and impact of hypothesised earlier full radiological staging data being available for MDT discussions were measured and evaluated.

RESULTS

For high risk C4b studies, just 16.67% of colonic pathology was observed during the CTC study, rising to 79% during radiographer PCE. For likely colonic neoplasm C5a studies 86% of colonic pathology was observed during the CTC study, rising to 93% during radiographer PCE. Where subsequent CT chest staging was deemed necessary following CTC by the referring team, patients had a median wait of 34 days for completion CT chest scan staging.

CONCLUSION

This study supports the integration of the advanced practitioner radiographer into the entire radiological processes of a CTC, with time advantages apparent for both diagnostics, but also the decision to treat.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Appropriately trained radiographers are able to support CTC services to ensure delivery of an effective two-week wait diagnostic service with direct MDT liaison.

Strut fracture of the Convexo-Concave Björk-Shiley mitral valve prosthesis

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Cardiac involvement in Wegener's granulomatosis

Wegener's granulomatosis is a systemic inflammatory disorder of unknown aetiology. The protean clinical presentations depend on the organ(s) involved and the degree of progression from a local to a systemic arteritis. The development of serological tests (antieutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies) allows easier diagnosis of a disease whose incidence is increasing. This is particularly helpful where the presentation is not classic--for example "overlap syndromes"--or where the disease presents early in a more localised form. This is true of cardiac involvement, which is traditionally believed to be rare, but may not be as uncommon as has hitherto been thought (< or = 44%). This involvement may be subclinical or the principal source of symptoms either in the form of localised disease or as part of a systemic illness. Pericarditis, arteritis, myocarditis, valvulitis, and arrhythmias are all recognised. Wegener's granulomatosis should therefore be considered in the differential diagnosis of any non-specific illness with cardiac involvement. This includes culture negative endocarditis, because Wegener's granulomatosis can produce systemic upset with mass lesions and vasculitis. Echocardiography and particularly transoesophageal echocardiography can easily identify and delineate cardiac and proximal aortic involvement and may also be used to assess response to treatment.