Impacto da pandemia COVID-19 na qualidade de imagem na radiografia do tórax em Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos

Imaging in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) plays a crucial role in patient care, chest radiography is the most requested exam for COVID – 19 patients in ICU context. The high risk of exposure to the virus may influence the quality of the exams. The objective of this study is to compare the fulfillment of the criteria for good performance in chest radiography in the ICU, before and during the critical phase of the pandemic COVID-19. Thirty-two images were evaluated, sixteen before the pandemic and sixteen to COVID – 19 patients, according to a scale of 8 items, scored 8 to 25 points, inversely proportional to the degree of compliance. There were no significant differences in the mean values between the groups, except in the presence of artifacts, showing that the images performed on COVID - 19 patients met these criteria better/more effectively. The results suggest that, in spite of the increased stress resulting from exposure to the new virus, the quality standard in the ICU exams is maintained.