OBJECTIVE To assess the frequency and indications for use of oral water-soluble contrast challenge as a diagnostic test for small bowel obstruction in four regions of the USA. MATERIALS AND METHODS We distributed a 9-question web-based survey to the abdominal section heads of academic radiology departments throughout the USA (N = 97). The questions pertained to use of water-soluble contrast for management of small bowel obstruction. Descriptive statistics and Fisher's exact tests were used for data analysis. RESULTS The overall response rate was 46%. Eighty percent of the responding hospitals had more than 500 beds in operation. Water-soluble contrast challenge was considered standard of care for management of non-operative small bowel obstruction in 60% of the responding radiology departments. The majority of the responding departments (41%) performed 2-8 contrast challenge studies per month on average. The most frequent indication for the study was distinguishing partial vs complete bowel obstruction. Eighty percent of the responding radiologists believed that the contrast challenge is useful for management of small bowel obstruction. Overall, there was no statistically significant difference in frequency and indication for use of water-soluble contrast challenge based on geographic location. CONCLUSION The water-soluble contrast challenge was considered standard of care for non-operative management of small bowel obstruction in majority of the academic radiology departments represented in this survey. Surgeons were referring clinicians in every case. The most common clinical indication for the study was distinguishing partial versus complete small bowel obstruction.

中文翻译：

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放射学学者对小肠梗阻使用“水溶性对比剂挑战疗法”的差异：国家调查的结果。

目的评估在美国四个地区使用口服水溶性造影剂挑战作为小肠梗阻诊断测试的频率和适应症。材料与方法我们向全美学术放射科的腹部科负责人分发了一个基于9个问题的网络调查（N = 97）。问题涉及使用水溶性造影剂处理小肠梗阻。描述性统计和Fisher精确检验用于数据分析。结果总体反应率为46％。百分之八十的回应医院拥有超过500张病床。在60％的放射科，水溶性造影剂挑战被视为非手术性小肠梗阻治疗的护理标准。大多数响应部门（41％）平均每月进行2-8次对比挑战研究。该研究最常见的适应症是区分部分肠梗阻与完全肠梗阻。百分之八十的放射科医生认为，造影剂挑战对小肠梗阻的治疗很有用。总体而言，根据地理位置，使用水溶性对比剂的频率和适应症没有统计学上的显着差异。结论在本次调查的大多数学术放射科中，水溶性对比剂挑战被认为是小肠梗阻非手术治疗的护理标准。在每种情况下，外科医生都在转诊临床医生。