A 2019 international survey to assess trends in follow-up imaging of blunt splenic trauma.

PURPOSE: There are no published guidelines on the follow-up imaging of non-operatively managed blunt splenic trauma (BST). We conducted an international survey of emergency radiologists to determine the ideal patient population, time period, and technique for follow-up imaging of BST.

METHODS

An anonymous 10-question online survey was distributed via email to 34 emergency radiologists around the world. The survey was open for a 2-week period in 2019. A commercially available website (SurveyMonkey®) was used for survey generation and data acquisition.

RESULTS

We received 29 responses (85% response rate) primarily from USA, Canada, and Europe. Majority of the institutions handled > 1000 trauma cases (69%). The initial protocol consisted of arterial and portal venous phases (PVP) in 72% of responses. Sixty-two percent of the institutions did not have a routine protocol for follow-up imaging of BST. There was no consensus on which patients received follow-up imaging. The most frequent responses had been case-per-case basis or injuries above a set AAST grade (42% and 37%, respectively). There was no set time period for follow-up imaging, but MDCT was most often performed at 24-48 h. Dual-phase protocol was utilized most commonly (69%). Majority of the institutions (88%) utilized angioembolization for hemodynamically stable patients with contained vascular injury or active extravasation.

CONCLUSION

There is no consensus on the optimal patient population or time period for follow-up imaging of BST. A dual-phase follow-up MDCT protocol is utilized for follow-up by majority of institutions.