Research Pulse: Future focussed health insights CALHN — Central Adelaide Local Health Network

Computed tomography scans, or CT scans, can save lives by enabling early detection of disease and faster diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. But they also expose you to far more radiation than a traditional X-ray.

There is growing recognition that avoiding unnecessary CT scans reduces cumulative exposure to radiation. It can also conserve hospital resources and minimise emergency waiting times. So can people be triaged in another way while still ensuring positive patient outcomes? 

One of the most frequently performed CT scans is of the brain in response to minor trauma, which is commonly associated with falls in the elderly, and in the younger population when affected by drugs and alcohol.

In this episode, we discuss the Adelaide Facial Bone Rule, a screening tool to reduce exposure to CT facial scans, which frequently accompanies a CT brain scan for patients admitted following a fall or accident. 

We speak to Sarah Constantine, a consultant radiologist at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, who led the first large study investigating the possibility of using information from the CT brain scan to predict the need for a CT facial bone scan to reduce the radiation dose to individual patients.

Sarah is also a perinatal and craniofacial radiologist at The Women’s and Children’s Hospital, is a forensic Radiologist, clinical Senior Lecturer, at the University of Adelaide’s Dental School and was a member of the SA Radiation Protection Committee between 2007 and 2022.


If you would like to get in touch, you can email us at healthCALHNcommunications@sa.gov.au

Most people know that a nutrient-dense diet of whole foods can improve your health in countless ways. But if you live with ulcerative colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which can cause painful inflammation in your digestive system – this maxim isn’t so straight forward.
Today we speak to Dr Alice Day about her work that is uncovering exactly what type of diet is best for people with IBD, which can be a lifelong debilitating condition with no cure.
If you would like to get in touch, you can email us at healthCALHNcommunications@sa.gov.au

In this episode, we discuss work towards overcoming resistance to ovarian cancer treatment.
Our guest is Dr Melissa Pitman, ovarian cancer researcher at the Centre for Cancer Biology.
We learn about:
why ovarian cancer is known as the 'silent killer'why chemotherapy resistance is a major problem when treating ovarian cancerhow Dr Pitman is using lab models to understand why some cancers become resistant and how they can be re-sensitised to treatmentIf you would like to get in touch, you can email us at healthCALHNcommunications@sa.gov.au

In this episode, we discuss research using machine learning to predict patient outcomes within the first 24 hours of arriving at hospital after a stroke.
We speak to Dr Stephen Bacchi, neurology registrar and researcher the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Stephen won the SA Health Young Professional of the Year award in 2021, and has recently been nominated for an SA Science and Innovation Excellence Award for his PhD research.


If you would like to get in touch, you can email us at healthCALHNcommunications@sa.gov.au

In this episode of the Research Pulse podcast, we’re focussing on work to combat the hidden pandemic of post-operative complications.
Our guest is Professor Guy Ludbrook, Director of PARC Clinical Research at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and Professor of Anaesthesia at the University of Adelaide.

 We learn about: 
Why post-surgery complications are on the riseHow the Advanced Recovery Room Care is reducing complications by 50%If you would like to get in touch, you can email us at healthCALHNcommunications@sa.gov.au

Whether they’re being treated for a broken leg or are here receive dialysis, many patients throughout different areas of a hospital also have diabetes which adds an extra layer of complexity for clinicians and patients.
In this episode, we speak to Research Nurse at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Dr Rebecca Munt, who is leading work to better understand the hospital landscape in South Australia for patients with diabetes.


If you would like to get in touch, you can email us at healthCALHNcommunications@sa.gov.au