Choosing Wisely audit: CT KUB ordering in emergency department renal colic presentations

Emerg Med Australas. 2024 Jun;36(3):485-487. doi: 10.1111/1742-6723.14405. Epub 2024 Mar 24.

Abstract

Objective: Our aim was to safely reduce unnecessary CT KUBs (kidneys, ureters, bladder) in patients with renal colic.

Methods: This was a before and after intervention observational study of 74 patients in April 2023 and 57 patients in October 2023.

Results: Seventy-five per cent of patients with suspected renal colic underwent a CT KUB in the pre-audit period. Following education, an update in the ED Renal Colic Policy, electronic medical record ordering and short stay pathway, a re-audit was undertaken in October 2023 resulting in an absolute reduction of 15% of CT KUBs ordered.

Conclusions: Audit interventions can reduce unnecessary CT KUBs in renal colic.

Keywords: CT; Choosing Wisely; audit; emergency department; renal colic.

Publication types

  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Emergency Service, Hospital* / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medical Audit / methods
  • Middle Aged
  • Renal Colic*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed* / methods
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed* / statistics & numerical data
  • Unnecessary Procedures / statistics & numerical data