State of the art in the teaching of digestive ultrasound

Abstract

Gastrointestinal ultrasound (GIUS) has been increasingly used for the management of gastrointestinal disorders due to its potentialities as a cheap, widely available and safe examination with comparable accuracy to other techniques such as Computed Tomography or Magnetic Resonance Imaging. However, some limitations have been stated to justify its underuse such as its dependency on the operator, small field of view and penetration and need of expertise. However, most of these limitations are inherent to any technique. The main problems with GIUS are lack of standardized definitions, adequate training programs and measures to assess the quality. The definition of universally applicable standardized measurements, the implementation of an internationally recognized curriculum as well as an agreed set of core competencies and the assessment of performance will hopefully overcome its potential limitations and implement its utilization universally in clinical practice.

Point-of-Care Testing and Home Testing: Pragmatic Considerations for Widespread Incorporation of Stool Tests, Serum Tests, and Intestinal Ultrasound

“…Several reasons may explain this lack of uptake (eg, skepticism against the clinical utility of IUS, operator dependency, shortage of US equipment, local expertise and training possibilities, economic reimbursement, and lack of time at outpatient clinic consultations). 23,[150][151][152] Although IUS has existed for decades, an internationally agreed-upon definition for IUS knowledge, technical skills, and interpretational skills that is needed for the independent practice of IUS is still lacking but is currently being developed. 153 The examination technique is described in detail.…”