Causes of rejection of radiographs in a regional hospital from Bahia Recôncavo

Abstract

Radiography is understood as the projection of a two-dimensional image processed and visible in conventional or digital medium, from the interaction of ionizing radiation of the X-ray type with the patient's body. To ensure the quality of radiography, the image, the patient, the x-emitting equipment and the other components related to acquisition/processing should be evaluated. This is an exploratory, observational, descriptive study that aimed to evaluate the index of radiographs rejected in a regional hospital in the municipality of Castro Alves - Bahia. The collection of rejected radiographs occurred during 192 days from September to February with the classification into five categories: underexposure, overexposure, patient movement, image artifact and positioning error. A total of 132 radiographs were rejected from a total of 2,756 radiographs, and underexposure (48.5%) the most common rejection reason found. Based on this information, a table of radiographic constants was formulated in order to act in an educational and preventive way, in order to minimize such error, ensuring a higher quality to the imaging service and a global economy for the hospital. Thus, establishing an assertive quality control allows an improvement of radiology service.