Table 3.

Opinions about ultrasound in NEC

Opinions about ultrasound in NEC, n = 202
Ultrasound in NEC…	Sometimes n [%]	Yes n [%] (95% CI)		p
…is useful	75 [37%]	99 [49%]
…is readily available	59 [29%]	85 [42%]
…is time-consuming	59 [29%]	42 [21%]
Neonatologists, n = 77		5 [6%]	(3 – 15%)
Surgeons, n = 58		8 [14%]	(7 – 26%)
Radiologists, n = 74		31 [42%]	(31 – 54%)	< 0.001
…disturbs the infant	81 [40%]	8 [4%]
…should be used more	46 [23%]	97 [48%]

Response alternatives for each statement were "yes", "sometimes", "no" and "no opinion"

Percentages refer to proportions of respondents. Where significant differences between subgroups were detected, 95% confidence intervals and a p value are given. Supplementary analyses showed no substantial influence of geographical variations

Comments about ultrasound were: “painful” (1); “has not been done at my institution/no experience/US is not used as a routine imaging modality in our hospital/department” (3); “it is not always possible at 24 hours” (1); “depends strongly on experience of the operator” (1); “need more training for sonographers and radiologists in US for NEC” (1); “not really available in our unit—would like it to be” (1); “not yet used as experience in detecting pneumatosis, etc., is lacking, except for general assessment” (1); “doing US in NEC for 15 years” (1); “we use it very frequently already—as often as needed” (1); “very useful and valid in experienced hands” (1)