Appendix A: Copy of Online Survey

  1. Which of the following would you classify as an anastomotic leak? (Tick all that apply)
  2. Extravasation of contrast on enema
  3. Radiological collection treated with antibiotics
  4. Radiological collection requiring percutaneous drainage
  5. Intra-abdominal sepsis requiring laparotomy
  6. Faecal matter seen in the drains or from the wound, regardless of the management
  1. What do you feel is the most sensitive tool for leak detection? (Please selecet at least your top three and rank in order of importance, 1= highest, 7=lowest
  2. Increasing white cell count
  3. Serial clinical examination
  4. Temperature
  5. Tachycardia
  6. Increasing CRP
  7. Distended abdomen
  8. Other (please specify)
  1. How often do you radiologically confirm a leak prior to intervention? (percentage)
  1. What is your PREFERRED radiological investigation to assess if there has been a left sided leak? (pick one)
  2. CT with IV contrast
  3. CT with rectal contrast
  4. CT with oral contrast
  5. Water soluble contrast enema
  6. Other (please specify)
  1. What is your PREFERRED radiological investigation to assess if there has been a right sided leak? (pick one)
  2. CT with IV contrast
  3. CT with rectal contrast
  4. CT with oral contrast
  5. Water soluble contrast enema
  6. Other (please specify)
  1. Do you have access to your preferred investigation out of routine office hours?
  2. Yes
  3. No
  1. If a scan has been reported as there being ‘no leak’ or ‘inconclusive’, how often have you subsequently found that there was a clinical leak?
  2. Very often
  3. Often
  4. Not very often
  5. Rarely
  6. Never
  1. What are your criteria for non-operative management of an anastomotic leak? (please rank in order of importance, 1= most important, 7= least important)
  2. Good general condition of the patient
  3. No systemic signs of sepsis (e.g. afebrile)
  4. Defunctioning stoma already present
  5. No available interventional radiologist
  6. Discrete/contained collection
  7. No/localised peritonitis
  8. Other (Please specify)
  1. How likely would you be to use a tool that would aid earlier detection of, or help exclude, a clinical leak?
  2. Very likely
  3. Quite likely
  4. Neither likely nor unlikely
  5. Quite unlikely
  6. Very unlikely

Survey End – thank you for your participation.

1 of 2