Radiology Trainee Versus Faculty Radiologist Fluoroscopy Time for Imaging-Guided Procedures: A Retrospective Study of 17,966 Reports Over a 5.5-Year Period

Publication date: Available online 8 July 2017
Source:Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology
Author(s): Ariadne K. DeSimone, Andrew Post, Richard Duszak, Phuong-Anh T. Duong
Rationale and ObjectivesTo evaluate differences in fluoroscopy time (FT) for common vascular access and gastrointestinal procedures performed by radiology trainees versus faculty radiologists.Materials and MethodsReport information was extracted for all 17,966 index fluoroscopy services performed by trainees and/or faculty from two university hospitals over 66 months. Various vascular access procedures (e.g., peripherally-inserted central catheters [PICCs] and ports) and gastrointestinal fluoroscopy procedures (e.g., upper gastrointestinal and contrast enema studies) were specifically targeted. Statistical analysis was performed.ResultsFT was recorded in 17,549/17,966 reports (98%) The 1393 procedures performed by non-physician providers or transitional year interns were excluded. Residents, fellows, and faculty were primary operators in 5,066, 6,489, and 4,601 procedures, respectively. Average FT (in seconds) for resident and fellow services, respectively, was less than that of faculty only for PICCs (75 and 101 vs. 148, p < 0.01). For all other procedures, average FT of trainee services was greater than that for faculty. This was statistically significant (P < 0.05) for fellows vs. faculty port placement (121 vs. 87), resident vs. faculty small bowel series (130 vs. 96), and both resident and fellow vs. faculty esophagram procedures (143 and 183 vs. 126 ). FT for residents was significantly less than that for fellows only for PICCs (75 vs. 101, p < 0.01).ConclusionFor most, but not all, fluoroscopy procedures commonly performed by radiology trainees, FT is greater than that for procedures performed by faculty radiologists. Better awareness and understanding of such differences may aid training programs in developing benchmarks, protocols, and focused teaching in the safe use of fluoroscopy for patients and operators.



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