Audit of paediatric renograms performed at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital
Date
2011
Authors
Onimonde, Yetunde Ajoke
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Abstract
Paediatric Nuclear Medicine is associated with a high preponderance of nephro-urological
investigations. This preponderance has been attributed to the relatively higher occurrence of
urinary tract infections and their sequelae in children, as well as to improved antenatal detection
of anomalies of the genitor-urinary tract. Nuclear Medicine is involved in the management of
these children to assist with diagnosis, clinical decision-making and follow-up of global and relative
renal function. As such, these scans need to be carried out as efficiently as possible.
International protocols established by the European and American societies of Nuclear Medicine
have been formulated to aid the Nuclear Medicine technologist and physician in performing these
procedures and interpreting them correctly.
Audits of Nuclear Medicine practice are performed in order to assess compliance with these
guidelines. A clinical audit has been defined as “a systematic and critical analysis of the quality of
medical care, including procedures for diagnosis and treatment.”
An audit of the renal paediatric procedures carried out in the Division of Nuclear Medicine at the
Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital was performed retrospectively on studies
carried out from January 2006 - December 2009, as well as a prospective study of procedures from
February – July 2010. Results showed overall conformity to most of the recommended practices
of the EANM guidelines. As occurs in most institutions, each institution may adapt guidelines to
comply with local circumstances.
Description
A research report submitted to the Faculty of the Health Sciences, University of
the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for
the degree of Master of Medicine in the branch of Nuclear Medicine.
Johannesburg 2011