Mia
Time is essential in emergency health situations, as seconds can determine what will happen with the patient and what the outcome will be. So, medical professionals need high-quality tools and machines that will help them diagnose the problem as quickly as possible so that they can take immediate action and continue with the best treatment. Computed Tomography (CT) scans are such machines that can help doctors and medical technicians diagnose and treat various conditions, diseases, and injuries quickly and effectively. Here are some of the main reasons why CT scans are valuable tools in health emergencies.
Speed
One of the main reasons why CT scans are so good is that they can be used in emergencies because you can get the results back fairly quickly. This can be quite useful in many different urgent situations. For example, if an athlete has fallen and hit their head, a CT scan can be used immediately to see whether there is damage to the brain. In order for doctors to react in time, they need to know what is going on, and by doing a scan, they can do what they need to right away. Without this technological advancement, many people would not be able to treat the injury they have sustained, and subsequently, their life may be at risk, or they won’t be able to get to full health.
Precision
Even though you can do a CT scan fairly quickly, they still do not lack precision. They are able to provide professionals with an accurate analysis of what is happening in someone’s head, whether they have a concussion, trauma, or other types of conditions. This is really important because the doctors can react to the results of the scan right away, not fearing that there is a problem with the results.
Safety and accessibility
CT scans do include some dose of radiation, but the benefits are much higher than the risks, especially when it comes to emergencies. Modern CT scans usually have lower doses of radiation, so patients are minimally exposed to it during the scan. As such, the risk of radiation is much lower than the benefit this kind of treatment and diagnostic procedure can bring. Also, CT scans are very accessible, as they are present in almost all hospitals and emergency rooms, whether public or private, so you can always look for something like ‘CT scan near me’ to find the most reliable, high-quality diagnostic imaging and care. You will meet with the best practitioners, discuss reports and images, and get the support you need to address all your health issues, especially if they are urgent. Thanks to their accessibility, CT scans are sometimes the first line of defense against various health issues, like strokes, brain injuries, pulmonary embolisms, internal bleeding, and many more.
Helping with minimally invasive procedures
CT scans are very helpful in guiding minimally invasive procedures so doctors can treat complex conditions without the need for open surgeries. This reduces risks, pain, and recovery times, which is great for patients of all ages. During these minimally invasive procedures, CT scans provide real-time images that can guide doctors on what steps to take and how to approach the whole situation. For example, in the case of blocked arteries or blood clots, CT scans can help to navigate catheters that will help with clot extraction. This minimizes risks and enhances the chances that the whole procedure will be successful, which helps doctors in urgent situations to work with greater accuracy and overall better outcomes.
Reducing diagnostic mistakes
Most of the time, when people come into the ER or to a doctor, they can come to a diagnosis fairly quickly just by having a glance at the person, but that is not always the case. For the professionals not to make silly mistakes without any technical diagnosis, they can order a CT scan to confirm or deny their diagnosis. By doing this, they won’t have to take a risk since they have the technology to be sure about what is going on. Also, the most important reason why CT scans have to be done is to prevent misdiagnosis. When people’s livelihoods are at stake, doctors should make sure they do everything possible to make the right read and to do the right treatments; this way, they prevent further injury and possibly even death.
Guiding the professionals
CT scans are also very useful when it comes to guiding medical procedures. In emergency situations, they need precise imaging so that they know how to best approach the problem at hand. For example, in surgical operations, the doctors could use the images provided by the CT scan to plan their approach and what they are going to do. This can minimize the damage that is done to people while still dealing with the problem in a great way. This way of doing things has made the job of doctors and other professionals much easier, and the success rate of the treatments has increased as well.
What is the risk of using a CT scan?
Even though CT scans are invaluable for hospitals around the world, they do hold some risk for the people they are exposed to. This technology uses radiation to scan the area that needs it, and if people are exposed to it many times, it can cause serious problems for them. It uses a considerably higher dose of radiation compared to other tech solutions, such as X-ray, but they are much more effective. The professional needs to weigh whether CT scan exposure is needed for the people they treat, keeping in mind whether they have been exposed previously to it and whether the scan is at all needed.
CT scans have completely transformed the way medical professionals deal with health emergencies, as their speed, precision, and detailed imaging can help prevent many problems and find the best possible solution quickly, saving lives. This way, patients will receive the care they deserve, especially in moments where every second counts and where every mistake can be fatal.
