Ultrasound Device Reduces the Number of Tests Required for Inpatients and Outpatients

The results of a study carried out by the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL; Geneva, Switzerland) into the use of a Pocket-sized Ultrasound Device (PUD) together with a physical examination, have been presented at the 2015 International Liver Congress, in Vienna (Austria).

The study evaluated the effectiveness of using a PUD, which offers performance comparable to standard ultrasonography, to reduce the need for further testing in both inpatient and outpatient settings, during a physical examination. The conditions tested under the study were biliary-duct dilation, gallstones, splenomegaly, ascites, pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, urinary stones, urinary retention, abdominal mass, and aortic aneurysm. The research included 1,962 patients, including 726 (37%) inpatients, 510 (26%) outpatients, and 726 (37%) patients recruited from physicians’ referrals.

The results showed that after some basic training, the PUD provided a simple and effective way to improve the accuracy of the clinician’s diagnosis, and reduce the number of tests needed by a patient. The PUD exam confirmed 66% of the clinical questions, in 90% of the cases. The overall frequency of further tests needed after use of the PUD was 37%. The rate of agreement between findings of the PUD and additional tests was 89%.

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