[Reduced emergency room time for trauma patients by integrated CT]

A new emergency room (ER) has been established in our trauma centre including an integrated CT scanner. The former ER was located at a long distance from the CT. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the integrated CT in the new ER on the time period from hospital admission to CT diagnostics as well as on the total ER time period.

Data from the old ER (2005-2007) have been compared with those from the new ER (2009). All patients whose data have been transmitted to the German Trauma Registry (DGU) have been included. For statistics the Mann-Whitney U test has been used.

Data of 457 patients could be included. Time from admission to CT scan in the old ER had an average of 35 ± 27 min (4-240 min), in the new ER 13 ± 10 min (1-67 min; p < 0.001). The total ER time could be reduced from 86 ± 42 min (10-240) in the old ER to 61 ± 33 min (5-190; p < 0.001) in the new ER.

Time from hospital admission to CT scan as well as the total ER time period can be reduced by using an integrated CT scanner.