RT Journal
A1 Colombani PM
T1 Similar to politics, “safest surgical practice” is local: Comment on “variability in pediatric splenic injury care”
JF Archives of Surgery
JO Archives of Surgery
YR 2010
FD November 15
VO 145
IS 11
SP 1053
OP 1054
DO 10.1001/archsurg.2010.226
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.2010.226
AB 
The article by Bowman et al is a thoughtful attempt to assess individual general surgeon practice as an explanation for the much higher rates of splenectomy in hospital settings, outside of children's hospitals. The authors polled actively practicing general surgeons across the United States about their knowledge of “best practice” guidelines for the nonoperative management of splenic injuries in children. In addition, they queried the surgeons about their agreement with said guidelines, the diagnostic testing used, barriers to using these practice guidelines, and their perception of the value of best practice guidelines.