Serial Trauma Abdominal Ultrasound in Children (STAUNCH): Assessment of Utilization

Point-of-care ultrasound has established utility within pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) and has the added benefit of avoiding excessive radiation exposure. The serial Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (sFAST) examination is an underutilized tool in pediatric trauma patients. We sought to understand current practices and viewpoints regarding serial ultrasound (US) examinations.

Thirty-three PEM institutions were surveyed regarding attitudes and practices toward serial FAST examination. We included all faculty and staff who had oversight or leadership in a POCUS program. We were provided with basic demographic data from institutions through our survey.

Among institutions that performed serial FAST examinations, the region with the highest number of respondents was the Northeast (38.7%). In total, 75.8% of respondents noted that serial ultrasound was a useful tool in pediatric trauma. The most common barrier was insufficient evidence for efficacy (50%), with the perception that it infrequently changed management (78.9%). Serial FAST was not routinely performed, and only one institution had a protocol for it.

Although there is institutional support for serial FAST examinations as part of trauma evaluations, several barriers remain that hinder their routine use in pediatric trauma patients.