Variations in Paediatric Intussusception Radiologic Enema Reduction Practices Across Aotearoa New Zealand: Results...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Radiology
• Gastrointestinal Imaging
• Interventional Radiology

Background:

• Intussusception is common in children, with radiologic enema reduction being the primary treatment.
• Previous studies show variation in reduction success rates and need for surgery.
• Management of intussusception may differ across institutions, prompting this investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate radiologic enema management patterns for pediatric intussusception in Aotearoa New Zealand (AoNZ).
• To identify variations in techniques and identify areas for standardization.

Main Methods:

• A snapshot survey of radiologists who managed pediatric intussusception in AoNZ over 5 years.
• Anonymous data collection via REDCap from April to July 2023.
• Network sampling used to achieve respondent saturation.

Main Results:

• 24 of 26 eligible radiologists responded.
• Pneumatic reduction under fluoroscopic guidance was the preferred method (96%).
• Significant variation observed in pneumatic pressures, catheter retention, hardware, and procedural timing.

Conclusions:

• AoNZ centers predominantly use fluoroscopic-guided pneumatic reduction.
• Diverse approaches to reduction hardware and catheter retention exist.
• Standardization of pneumatic pressure, timing, and periprocedural care is recommended for improved outcomes.