Introduction: Contrast enhanced voiding ultrasonography (ceVUS) is used to evaluate for vesicoureteral reflux and has the benefit of no radiation compared to voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG). We aimed to better understand how parents perceive their child’s experience of undergoing ceVUS compared to VCUG. Secondary aim included evaluating sedation use with the 2 studies.
Methods: Children who underwent both VCUG and ceVUS were recruited. Parents were asked to complete a questionnaire to evaluate their child’s experience with both studies. Demographics including gender, age at study, and sedation use were collected to account for differences in perception. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square and t-test.
Results: 51 patients were included: 26 females, 35 males. The mean age of first VCUG was significantly lower than age of first ceVUS (9 vs 38 months, p<0.0001). Hence, 16% required sedation for 1st VCUG, and 53% required sedation for 1st ceVUS (p < 0.0001).
43 parents (84%) were satisfied or very satisfied with their child’s experience with ceVUS; 5 parents were unsatisfied or very unsatisfied. 40 parents (78%) preferred ceVUS, 4 parents (8%) preferred VCUG, and 7 (14%) were neutral. On average, parents perceived ceVUS to be more comfortable (75%), more contact with child (62%), and faster (57%) (Fig 1). If patients were excluded who had sedation for 1st ceVUS, still 71% preferred ceVUS, and 8% preferred VCUG (p=0.0004).
The average age of 1st VCUG in those who prefer VCUG was younger than the age of 1st VCUG in those who prefer ceVUS (1.8 vs 10.4 months, p=0.0006). Otherwise sedation use for 1st VCUG and 1st ceVUS were similar between those who prefer ceVUS vs VCUG (p=0.32 and p=0.77). The average age of those undergoing VCUG with sedation was lower than the average age for ceVUS with sedation (38 vs 51 months, p<0.0001).
Conclusions: The majority of parents preferred ceVUS over VCUG which did not appear to be influenced by sedation use during ceVUS. ceVUS was perceived to be more comfortable, faster, and allowed more contact between parent and child. The children of the parents who preferred VCUG over ceVUS underwent VCUG at a younger age than those who preferred ceVUS. An additional benefit of ceVUS may include holding sedation use for ceVUS for older ages compared to VCUG.
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