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Critical Findings and Hand-Off Communication
If an image shows something dangerous, keep the patient, tell the radiologist now, and use SBAR, read-back and documentation. Never tell the patient.
What counts as critical
A critical result is a finding that may need treatment within minutes to hours. Radiographers often see these first at the console. Common examples are a tension pneumothorax with the mediastinum pushed to the other side, free air under the diaphragm on an upright chest or abdomen, an endotracheal tube in the right main bronchus or esophagus, a feeding tube in a bronchus before feeding has started, an unstable spine fracture, an aspirated foreign body and a swallowed button battery. A button battery shows a double ring or halo on the frontal view and needs urgent removal. Each hospital publishes its own list.