STAT imaging
Formal Definition
A radiological study ordered with the highest urgency designation, indicating that the imaging must be performed and interpreted immediately due to a life-threatening or time-sensitive clinical situation; in most hospitals, STAT imaging is expected to begin within 30-60 minutes of the order and preliminary results communicated promptly to the ordering provider.
How It's Used on the Ward
"STAT CT" or "ordering it STAT" — urgent imaging that needs to happen now because the patient cannot wait for a scheduled slot.
Example
""Sudden onset worst headache of life, onset with exertion, BP 190/110: STAT non-contrast CT head to rule out subarachnoid hemorrhage. If CT negative, lumbar puncture for xanthochromia — negative CT does not rule out SAH within the first 6 hours.""
Clinical Context
STAT overuse is a systemic problem — when everything is STAT, nothing is STAT; patients who genuinely need urgent imaging are delayed by queue saturation. Appropriate STAT indications: stroke/TIA (CT within 25 minutes per stroke protocol), suspected SAH, aortic dissection, tension pneumothorax, acute MI with diagnostic uncertainty, unstable patient with unknown source. Most STAT orders in academic centers are not clinically STAT — this degrades trust and delays truly urgent cases. Many hospitals now have triaged urgency levels: STAT (immediate), URGENT (1-2 hours), ROUTINE (scheduled). Radiologist communication: critical findings (pneumothorax, dissection, hemorrhage) require direct verbal communication to the ordering provider regardless of report status.
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