Congress:
EuroSafe Imaging 2021
Keywords:
Lung, Management, Thorax, CT, Plain radiographic studies, Ultrasound, Diagnostic procedure, Infection
Authors:
I. Blazic, B. Brkljacic, G. Frija
DOI:
10.26044/esi2021/ESI-15327
Methods or background
The survey was conducted from 6th to 26th April 2020. For this purpose, an online questionnaire regarding the use of imaging in COVID-19 patients was prepared using Survey Monkey. The survey was sent to renowned representatives of ISR and ESR member countries.
The questionnaire was composed of six clinical scenarios regarding different levels of disease probability (suspected case/confirmed case), disease severity (asymptomatic/severe symptoms/critically ill patient) and patient management (hospital discharge). The use of imaging was assessed first in two clinical scenarios set up in situations of different probabilities of COVID-19 – in symptomatic patients with suspected COVID-19 and in patients with confirmed disease, and secondly in three clinical scenarios with different disease severities – in asymptomatic subjects, in patients with severe symptoms and in critically ill patients. Furthermore, the use of imaging for decision-making related to the discharge of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 was investigated. Under each scenario several questions were posed about the type of imaging modality performed (chest X-ray, chest CT, lung US, MRI) and the reason for imaging use in that particular clinical scenario. Additionally, three general questions on whether departments undertook the measures recommended by existing guidelines, structured reporting of imaging in patients with COVID-19 and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on radiological department’s organization were included in the survey. Finally, at the end of the survey respondents could add any type of comments in a free-text field.