News

Yorkshire & Humber Academic Health Science Network (AHSN) has welcomed the news that the work of a group of pioneering researchers in the region has now been published in the prestigious European Journal of Radiology.

The published paper outlines how local researchers have been assessing the potential of technology to improve the care for patients requiring Computerised Tomography (CT). They have been trialling new methods that check that the function of the kidneys is normal before contrast (x-ray dye) is administrated. They have found that a screening questionnaire used in conjunction with the latest point of care kidney function devices is comparable to standard laboratory blood test results. This is critical to identify patients who may be at risk of developing acute kidney injury after CT contrast.

Currently patients undergoing CT scans that require use of a contrast to improve the visibility of internal organs and structures need an up to date kidney function test before they can have a scan. Although administrative efforts are made on the behalf of radiology or the referrer to organise a blood test in the majority of Trusts, If patients do not have a recent kidney function available, it could mean their appointment has to be postponed, resulting in a potential delay in diagnosis as well as underuse of key NHS resources.

The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals, Clinical Professor of Radiography, Bev Snaith led the research alongside Martine Harris, Senior CT Research Radiographer. They were supported by the Yorkshire & Humber AHSN, the National Institute for Health Research Leeds In Vitro diagnostics Co-operative (MIC), University of Leeds and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

The work was funded through a £115,000 grant from the National Cancer Diagnostic Capacity Fund and the application for this was also supported by the Yorkshire & Humber AHSN.

The study was part of the National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network (NIHR CRN) portfolio of studies. This consists of high-quality clinical research studies that are eligible for consideration for support from the Clinical Research Network in England.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has also initiated a Diagnostics Assessment Programme looking at this topic which, once completed, will influence national clinical guidelines.