Paediatricians’ referral preference of patients with embolised intravascular foreign bodies: a survey-based study

BACKGROUND: Central line insertion is a routine procedure in medical practice. Dislodgement of lines into the vascular system is a rare complication. We noticed that paediatric health care providers (PHCP) contact the cardiac or general paediatric surgeon for extraction of dislodged lines more frequently than using the less invasive percutaneous approach. AIM: To study the referral preference of PHCP for patient with embolised intravascular foreign bodies. METHODS: A questionnaire with three questions was distributed to PHCP of all paediatric subspecialties, including surgery, in two tertiary care centres. The questions were about the total number of patients seen with central line, experience with complications, and preferred specialty for removal of dislodged central lines. RESULTS: The questionnaire was distributed to 128 professionals. The response rate was 79% (n=101). Incomplete answers (n=14) were excluded. The grades of responders were senior consultants 18%, junior consultants 38%, and residents 43%. Thirty nine percent of care providers experienced dislodgement or fragmentation of central lines. The majority (82%) prefer to refer the patients for surgical removal. CONCLUSIONS: Most PHCP in the selected hospitals prefer to refer patients with embolised foreign bodies in the vascular system for surgical removal. The local health policy should be updated for the use of the alternative percutaneous approach.