World Federation of Emergency Radiology (WFER) Joint Statement: an Update
Opinion 1
Role of the radiologist during the COVID-19 Outbreak
Advocate - Represent radiology at a management level during the outbreak to give guidance regarding proper use of the radiology department
Preparation - maintain department readiness though equipment optimisation, staff training and education with best available evidence
Expedite - expedite discharge of inpatients to increase hospitals capacity by working closely with clinicians
Triage - triage appropriate use if imaging in department for Covid and non Covid patients
Guide - guide clinicians through proper discussion and education as to best imaging for Covid and non Covid patients
Protect - protect staff from unnecessary exposure to Covid through good practice in imaging pathways and infection control
Develop - develop systems to ensure rapid triage and diagnosis of cases using technology such as AI
Opinion 2
Role of Imaging (X-Ray and CT in diagnosis and management of COVID specific disease in COVID suspected and COVID confirmed patients
1. Chest X ray (CXR) will be the first line imaging investigation to aid both the diagnosis and monitoring of suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases.
CXR is not itself diagnostic, but will aid if clinical suspicion while awaiting PCR result. CXR can be false negative
2. CT Chest to be used in the diagnosis of COVID-19 specific disease when:
–Severely sick patients with a normal CXR
and/or
-Triaging severely sick patients required immediate management decisions in the absence/delay of PCR or normal CXR
3. CT Chest in Covid confirmed patients
- Complications i.e. abscess, empyema etc.
- Disease follow up in unwell patients to aid decision making
4. The role of US is currently being explored by WFER