Imaging sedation and anesthesia practice patterns in pediatric radiology departments — a survey of the Society of Chiefs of Radiology at Children’s Hospitals (SCORCH)

• Published in: Pediatric radiology Vol. 51; no. 8; pp. 1497 - 1502
• Main Authors: Dillman, Jonathan R., Gee, Michael S., Ward, Christopher G., Drum, Elizabeth T., States, Lisa J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.07.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anesthesia; Children; Hospitals; Imaging; Medical imaging; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neuroradiology; Nuclear Medicine; Oncology; Original Article; Patients; Pediatrics; Physicians; Radiology; Scorch; Standardization; Statistical analysis; Ultrasound; Websites; Anesthesia; Survey; Children; Sedation; Pediatric radiology
• ISSN: 0301-0449; 1432-1998
• DOI: 10.1007/s00247-021-04996-y

Background There are few data describing practice patterns related to the use of sedation/anesthesia for diagnostic imaging in pediatric radiology departments. Objective To understand current practice patterns related to imaging with sedation/anesthesia in pediatric radiology departments based on a survey of the Society of Chiefs of Radiology at Children’s Hospitals (SCORCH) in conjunction with the American College of Radiology’s Pediatric Imaging Sedation and Anesthesia Committee. Materials and methods A multi-question survey related to imaging with sedation/anesthesia in pediatric radiology departments was distributed to SCORCH member institutions in January 2019. A single reminder email was sent. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed. Results Of the 84 pediatric radiology departments, 23 (27%) completed the survey. Fifty-seven percent of the respondents self-identified as academic/university-affiliated and 13% as a division/section in an adult radiology department. Imaging sedation (excluding general anesthesia) is commonly performed by pediatric anesthesiologists (76%) and intensive care unit physicians (intensivists, 48%); only 14% of departments expect their pediatric radiologists to supervise imaging sedation. Ninety-six percent of departments use child life specialists for patient preparation. Seventy percent of departments have preparatory resources available on a website, including simulation videos (26%) and audio clips (17%). Nearly half (48%) of the departments have a mock scanner to aid in patient preparation. Imaging sedation/anesthesia is most often scheduled at the request of ordering clinicians (65%), while 57% of departments allow schedulers to place patients into imaging sedation/anesthesia slots based on specified criteria. Conclusion Imaging sedation/anesthesia practice patterns vary among pediatric radiology departments, and understanding current approaches can help with standardization and practice improvement.