Contemporary postoperative imaging practices among pediatric surgeons for image-guided central venous line placement: A survey of the American Pediatric Surgical Association

Background/Purpose: Rare life-threatening complications after central venous line (CVL) placement in children may encourage the routine use of postoperative imaging, despite multiple studies demonstrating the limited utility of this practice. The aim of this study was to investigate the nature of this discordance. Methods: A 10-question survey was sent to 1,239 members of the American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) addressing contemporary practices regarding CVL placement and postoperative imaging. Results: Five hundred eighteen (42%) surveys were completed. The majority of respondents routinely obtain a chest radiograph (CXR) after image-guided CVL placement (52%). Years in practice, operative volume, and practice type were not statistically associated with postoperative CXR usage (all p > 0.05). ‘Routine’ users were more likely to cite “standard of care” (p < 0.001), position verification (p < 0.001), and complication identification (p < 0.001) as indications for use than those who use CXR selectively. Conclusion: Routine use of postoperative CXR after image-guided CVL placement remains common among pediatric surgeons. Significant variation exists in the indication for this study, with considerable disagreement between ‘selective’ and ‘routine’ users. Consideration should be given for an APSA standardized guideline utilizing a clinically-driven approach to CVL placement and postoperative imaging to align with evidence-based practice. Level of evidence: N/A — descriptive analysis of survey results.