Constraints related to performing chest radiography for patients on respiratory assistance in the absence of a portable X-ray device at the Bafoussam Regional Hospital

Abstract

Objective: Determine the constraints related to performing chest radiography for patients on respiratory assistance in the absence of a portable X-ray device at the Bafoussam Regional Hospital

Materials and methods: The study carried out over a period of six (06) months at the Regional Medical Imaging Center at the Bafoussam Regional Hospital was transversal descriptive. All patients hospitalized on respiratory assistance that were to benefit from a chest X-ray and whose informed free consent had been obtained were included. The data collected were recorded and analyzed using Excel 2016 and StatView 5.1 software with a p<0.05 significance level.

Results: Of the 60 patients who met the inclusion criteria, the average age was 47.7 years with an M/F sex ratio of 1.3. Of the 60 requests for examinations received, 63.3% were non-compliant. 63.3% of the pulmonary radiography shots taken from Anterior
Posterior were of poor quality. The main constraints related to the performance of patient examinations were: the absence of inter-service communication (p=0.028), the alteration of the general condition of the patient (p=0.035), its oxygen dependence (p=0.033), its poor Oxygen saturation (p=0.008), the time taken for the examination (p=0.012), non medical assistance (p=0.0089), non-conformity of the requests (p=0.012) and the Non preparation of the patient (p= 0.047).

Conclusion: In the absence of a portable X-ray machine, patients on respiratory assistance when performing their chest radiography face several constraints that impact the quality of their images and increase the radiation risk.