Background The blunt and penetrating abdominal trauma follow-up relies on contrast CT scan to detect solid organ injuries. CEUS is not widely used worldwide, despite its accuracy and feasibility in identifying parenchymal and vascular lesions. This survey aims to define the current use of CEUS in Trauma Centers and the expectations of Emergency Surgeons regarding its role. Methods We sent an online questionnaire composed of 10 questions to trauma physicians worldwide during the period of September 2022 to March 2023. Results 59 participants from 53 different centers answered the questionnaire. 76.2% of the enrolled participants have CEUS available at their Institution, and 49.2% think that it can replace CT scan. Contrast-CT scan remains the preferred option in the follow-up of blunt liver (69.5%), spleen (72.9%) and kidney (76.3%) injuries, followed by CEUS which is used in 18.6% for liver, 20.3% for spleen and 15.3% for kidney injuries. The results are similar for penetrating abdominal trauma, with contrast CT scan being the first-line imaging technique (91.5% for liver, 91.5% for spleen and 88.1% for kidney injuries), followed by CEUS (5.1% for liver, 5.1% for spleen and 6.8% for kidney injuries). Conclusions Our survey shows that CEUS is still underutilized in the follow-up of abdominal trauma, even though many emergency surgeons consider it as a valid alternative to contrast CT scan.
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the follow-up of abdominal solid organ trauma: an international survey prior to the PseAn study / Santolamazza, G; Virdis, F; Abu-Zidan, F; Cioffi, STEFANO PIERO BERNARDO; Reitano, E; Altomare, M; Bini, R; Podda, M; Kumar, J; Chiara, O; PseAn Collaborative, Group; Cimbanassi, S. - In: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF TRAUMA AND EMERGENCY SURGERY. - ISSN 1863-9941. - (2023). [10.1007/s00068-023-02364-z]
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the follow-up of abdominal solid organ trauma: an international survey prior to the PseAn study
Cioffi SPBWriting – Review & Editing
;Altomare M;
2023
Abstract
Background The blunt and penetrating abdominal trauma follow-up relies on contrast CT scan to detect solid organ injuries. CEUS is not widely used worldwide, despite its accuracy and feasibility in identifying parenchymal and vascular lesions. This survey aims to define the current use of CEUS in Trauma Centers and the expectations of Emergency Surgeons regarding its role. Methods We sent an online questionnaire composed of 10 questions to trauma physicians worldwide during the period of September 2022 to March 2023. Results 59 participants from 53 different centers answered the questionnaire. 76.2% of the enrolled participants have CEUS available at their Institution, and 49.2% think that it can replace CT scan. Contrast-CT scan remains the preferred option in the follow-up of blunt liver (69.5%), spleen (72.9%) and kidney (76.3%) injuries, followed by CEUS which is used in 18.6% for liver, 20.3% for spleen and 15.3% for kidney injuries. The results are similar for penetrating abdominal trauma, with contrast CT scan being the first-line imaging technique (91.5% for liver, 91.5% for spleen and 88.1% for kidney injuries), followed by CEUS (5.1% for liver, 5.1% for spleen and 6.8% for kidney injuries). Conclusions Our survey shows that CEUS is still underutilized in the follow-up of abdominal trauma, even though many emergency surgeons consider it as a valid alternative to contrast CT scan.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.