WFUMB Position Paper. Learning Gastrointestinal Ultrasound: Theory and Practice

Nathan S S Atkinson; Robert V Bryant; Yi Dong; Christian Maaser; Torsten Kucharzik; Giovanni Maconi; Anil K Asthana; Michael Blaivas; Adrian Goudie; Odd Helge Gilja; Christian Nolsøe; Dieter Nürnberg; Christoph F Dietrich

doi:10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2016.08.026

WFUMB Position Paper. Learning Gastrointestinal Ultrasound: Theory and Practice

Ultrasound Med Biol. 2016 Dec;42(12):2732-2742. doi: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2016.08.026. Epub 2016 Oct 11.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Translational Gastroenterology Unit, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK.
² School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia.
³ Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
⁴ Ambulanzzentrum Gastroenterologie, Klinikum Lüneburg, Lüneburg, Germany.
⁵ Stadtisches Klinikum Luneburg gGmbH, Department of Gastroenterology, Lüneburg, Germany.
⁶ Gastrointestinal Unit, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, L. Sacco University Hospital, Milan, Italy.
⁷ Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Alfred Hospital, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁸ University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Department of Medicine. Department of Emergency Medicine, Piedmont Hospital Newnan, Georgia, USA.
⁹ Emergency Department, Fiona Stanley Hospital, Perth, Australia.
¹⁰ National Centre for Ultrasound in Gastroenterology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
¹¹ Copenhagen Academy for Medical Education and Simulation (CAMES), Ultrasound Section, Department of Gastroenterology, Division of Surgery, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
¹² Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg, Germany.
¹³ Med. Klinik 2, Caritas-Krankenhaus, Bad Mergentheim, Germany. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 27742140
DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2016.08.026

Abstract

Gastrointestinal ultrasound (GIUS) is an ultrasound application that has been practiced for more than 30 years. Recently, GIUS has enjoyed a resurgence of interest, and there is now strong evidence of its utility and accuracy as a diagnostic tool for multiple indications. The method of learning GIUS is not standardised and may incorporate mentorship, didactic teaching and e-learning. Simulation, using either low- or high-fidelity models, can also play a key role in practicing and honing novice GIUS skills. A course for training as well as establishing and evaluating competency in GIUS is proposed in the manuscript, based on established learning theory practice. We describe the broad utility of GIUS in clinical medicine, including a review of the literature and existing meta-analyses. Further, the manuscript calls for agreement on international standards regarding education, training and indications.

Keywords: Inflammatory bowel disease; Intestinal; Learning curve; Point-of-care ultrasound; Ultrasound.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Clinical Competence
Gastrointestinal Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
Gastrointestinal Tract / diagnostic imaging*
Humans
Practice Guidelines as Topic
Societies, Medical
Ultrasonics / education*
Ultrasonography / methods*