Referrals for bowel ultrasound in clinical practice: A survey in 12 nationwide centres in Italy

Maconi, Giovanni; Terracciano, Fulvia; de Sio, Ilario; Rigazio, Caterina; Roselli, Paola; Radice, Elisa; Castellano, Luigi; Farci, Fabio; Francica, Giampiero; Giannetti, Andrea; Marcucci, Federico; Dalaiti, Andrea; Badini, Matteo; Fraquelli, Mirella; Massironi, Sara

doi:10.1016/j.dld.2010.05.017

« Previous Next »Digestive and Liver Disease
Volume 43, Issue 2 , Pages 165-168, February 2011

Referrals for bowel ultrasound in clinical practice: A survey in 12 nationwide centres in Italy

Giovanni Maconi
- Department of Clinical Sciences, “L. Sacco” University Hospital, Milan, Italy
- Corresponding author at: Gastrointestinal Unit, “L. Sacco” University Hospital, Via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milan, Italy. Tel.: +39 02 39042486; fax: +39 02 39042232.
Fulvia Terracciano
- U.O. Gastroenterologia, Ospedale Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, FG, Italy
Ilario de Sio
- Cattedra di Gastroenterologia Seconda, Università di Napoli, Naples, Italy
Caterina Rigazio
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, Gastroenterology Division, A.O. Ordine Mauriziano, Torino, Italy
Paola Roselli
- Unità Operativa di Gastroenterologia, Ospedale Belcolle, Viterbo, Italy
Elisa Radice
- Department of Clinical Sciences, “L. Sacco” University Hospital, Milan, Italy
Luigi Castellano
- ASL NA1 Centro - Distretto Sanitario n. 33 -Gastroenterology, Naples, Italy
Fabio Farci
- Studio radiologico Casciu, Cagliari, Italy
Giampiero Francica
- U.O. Ecografia Diagnostica e Interventistica, Ospedale Camilliani “S. Maria della Pietà”, Casoria (NA), Italy
Andrea Giannetti
- Unità Operativa di Gastroenterologia, Ospedale Misericordia, Grosseto, Italy
Federico Marcucci
- U.O. di Gastroenterologia ed Endoscopia Digestiva, Azienda Ospedaliero,Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
Andrea Dalaiti
- Medicina Generale Bologna, Gastroenterologo Libero Professionista, Bologna, Italy
Matteo Badini
- Department of Clinical Sciences, “L. Sacco” University Hospital, Milan, Italy
Mirella Fraquelli
- Gastroenterology Unit II Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
Sara Massironi
- Gastroenterology Unit II Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy

Received 29 October 2009; accepted 26 May 2010. published online 09 July 2010.

Abstract

Background

The value of ultrasound (US) in assessing gastrointestinal diseases is well documented, but its demand in clinical practice is unknown. This survey evaluated the demand for bowel US in Italy.

Methods

Twelve sonographers of the Gastroenterology Section of the Italian Society of Ultrasound participated in a 1-month survey; they compiled a questionnaire assessing total number of patients referred for abdominal US and for gastrointestinal tract US, type of referring physician, indications and results of examinations.

Results

The survey included 2424 examinations, 586 of which (24%) investigated the gastrointestinal tract: 280 for signs or symptoms and 268 for follow-up of pre-existing gastrointestinal diseases. Referring physicians were mainly gastroenterologists (78%) and general practitioners (13%). Organic lesions were found or suspected in 292 examinations.

Conclusions

Bowel US is used in Italy in routine practice, mainly by gastroenterologists and general practitioners, both for follow-up of pre-existing diseases and for gastrointestinal complaints.

Keywords: Bowel ultrasound, Clinical practice, Survey