Washington, Dec 21 (IANS) Sometimes a simple bedside exam performed by a skilled physician is superior to a high-tech CT scan, says a new study.
Researchers found that physicians’ bedside examinations did a better job than CT scans in predicting which patients would need to return to the operating room to treat complications such as bleeding.

“The low cost, simple, but elegant neurological exam appears to be superior to a routine CT scan in determining return to the operating room,” researchers reported.

Patients typically receive CT scans following open brain surgery to remove tumours, repair aneurysms, treat brain injuries, etc. But practices vary. Some surgeons order CT scans right after surgery. Others wait until the following morning.

There are downsides. CT scans cost hundreds of dollars and expose patients to radiation. Transporting patients to scanning machines “involves multiple personnel of varying skills and nursing staff who are taken away from their other unit responsibilities”, researchers wrote.

The study was co-authored by Thomas Origitano, chairman of the department of neurological surgery, and Ahmad Khaldi, chief resident in neurological surgery at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, according to a Loyola University release.

“These scans also often interfere with work flow efficiencies of the radiology department,” the researchers said.

These findings were published in Journal of Neurosurgery.