Results

In total, 228/278 survey forms were returned by trainees, a response rate of 82%. Seventy seven per cent of responders wanted to receive some training in abdominal ultrasound and 68% would be prepared to receive training as described in the guideline document. Most of those (80%) prepared to train in this manner, would still wish to do so even if such training were only required for European accreditation. There were a number of specific benefits to clinical practice anticipated by specialist registrars from training in ultrasound. The most frequently cited were a reduction in the delay of outpatient investigation and the use of ultrasound for liver biopsy.

Only 8% of specialist registrars anticipated achieving the simplest level of clinical ability A (table 1, question 5). Seventy eight per cent of trainees expected to reach the intermediate levels of either B or C, while just 14% anticipated achieving the comprehensive ability level D. Most specialist registrars (86%) therefore wished to be able to carry out a full hepatobiliary assessment without the ability to assess renal, pelvic, or other pathology. Most specialist registrars (73%) would not normally expect that a further ultrasound scan by a radiologist would be needed (table 1, question 6). The mean number of examinations expected by specialist registrars to be required to maintain competence (table 1, question 7) was 150 with a mean number of dedicated ultrasound sessions anticipated to be 0.75.

The results of the study to compare gastroenterology ultrasound requests with those originating from other clinicians are summarised in tables 2 (indications) and 3 (findings reported). The indications of abdominal pain, possible gallstones, and abnormal liver function tests were more frequent in gastroenterology practice (35%, 19%, and 20% of examinations compared with 15%, 8%, and 8% of examinations respectively) (table 2). The indications of haematuria, pelvic pain, pelvic mass, renal transplant follow up, and possible renal disease which together featured in 33% of the non-gastroenterology requested examinations, were not represented at all in our study sample of gastroenterology requests (table 2). The ultrasound findings of gallstones and fatty liver infiltration were more frequent in gastroenterology practice (16% and 12% of examinations respectively compared with 5.5% and 3.5% of examinations; table 3). Conversely, benign renal abnormalities were more frequent in non-gastroenterology practice (11% compared with 4% of examinations; table 3). In summary, gastroenterologists are more likely to request ultrasound examinations with indications relating to hepatobiliary disease and less likely to request ultrasound scans with the indications of pelvic or renal pathology. The findings of the scans studied are in accordance with the above trends of indications.

Discussion

Most gastroenterology trainees wish to train in abdominal ultrasound examination and most would be prepared to follow a training programme as outlined by the Royal College of Radiologists1 if this were available to them. This decision does not seem to be greatly influenced by whether such training might be required for UK practice or only for European accreditation. However, most trainees thought that the most appropriate level of ultrasound ability to be attained by a gastroenterologist would exclude the ability to examine pelvic, renal, and adrenal pathology while including extensive hepatobiliary skills. This contrasts with the Royal College of Radiologists’ guidelines including pelvic imaging as part of the course syllabus.1 The study comparing ultrasound examinations requested by a department of gastroenterology with those requested by other clinicians also shows less frequent indications and findings relating to pelvic and renal pathology in the gastroenterology requested examinations, with an increased focus on hepatobiliary indications and findings. The indications for ultrasound will vary to some extent with differing practice between individual units.

The level of experience required by an ultrasound practitioner in order to perform satisfactory diagnostic abdominal scanning is subject to several considerations. In urological outpatient practice it has been suggested that a restricted ultrasound scan performed by a urologist provides accurate and reliable information when the technique is learnt over some weeks.7 The details of the training undergone by the clinicians in that study were not, however, recorded. A restricted ultrasound training programme, excluding pelvic examination, would enable the majority of diagnoses to be made in gastroenterology practice. A policy of full history taking and clinical examination including urinalysis would be likely to reduce the prevalence of unsuspected renal or pelvic pathology among those patients scanned.

The extent to which hospital specialists should focus on their field of clinical interest is an area which has parallels worthy of debate in clinical examination as well as in imaging. For example, there is variability in the detail with which clinicians routinely examine the different systems at a new outpatient appointment. A patient presenting with dyspeptic symptoms who is otherwise well might or might not have his heart auscultated and blood pressure measured, depending on the usual practice of his gastroenterologist.

The interests of patients in receiving an optimum service are central to the Royal College of Radiologists’ guidelines in the training of medical non-radiologists in ultrasound.8 ,9 This objective is the basis for the training of medical non-radiologists to a level of ultrasound ability comparable to that of trainee radiologists at the time of their successful completion of the final fellowship examination.1 The cost and resource implications of training specialist registrars in ultrasound according to the Royal College of Radiologists’ guidelines are such that only a small proportion of specialist registrars could be expected to complete the imaging option module. If it is assumed that about a third of the costs would be used in theoretical training and the remainder for a practical module (300 scans minimum for the first module and 150 scans for a second or third module), restricting the practical module for gastroenterologists to hepatobiliary work (about half the abdominal syllabus) might save £1000 of the total of £3000 per trainee.

An alternative option to address the perceived need for the availability of ultrasound in the outpatient clinic would be the allocation of a radiologist or ultrasonographer to the gastroenterology clinic. While ideal, this is not likely to be an option as the need for the service is sporadic and will not be practical in most centres due to the general shortfall of radiologists. There is no regulation on the practise of ultrasound to prohibit any clinician offering the service, though it would not of course be desirable to expand into this field without adequate training. The maintenance of ability once trained is very important and it should be noted that specialist registrars’ estimations of the number of ultrasound examinations per annum needed to maintain competence and of the number of sessions they would be able to dedicate to ultrasound are both less than recommended in the Royal College of Radiologists’ guideline document.1

The role of ultrasound in the safe practice of percutaneous liver biopsy is a separate area and one which was often cited by specialist registrars as a potential benefit to their practise from ultrasound training. The British Society of Gastroenterology audit of liver biopsy suggested that ultrasound guidance should increasingly become part of routine percutaneous liver biopsy.10

In Europe, ultrasound skills form part of gastroenterology training in all other countries. In Germany, Austria, parts of France, the Benelux countries, and parts of Scandinavia, it is routine practice for gastroenterologists to perform abdominal ultrasound within their general examination of the patient. This is usually done in the outpatient clinic with a portable machine, although many gastroenterological services also have a machine for ward use. These tend to be used to exclude relatively straightforward problems such as gallstones and dilated bile ducts, leaving complicated investigations such as Doppler studies to specialist radiologists. Gastroenterologists in these countries only rarely provide a service for patients not under their care (Rhodes J, personal communication). A Swiss radiologist has expressed scepticism of the value of unrestricted, non-radiological ultrasound practice.11 His department performs 90% of the total ultrasound examinations using five machines; five others distributed throughout various specialist departments are relatively underused. Elsewhere in Switzerland, radiological involvement in ultrasound, and presumably therefore, efficient use of equipment and maintenance of operator skill, is more patchy.

In the UK, it remains to be seen whether readily available, specialty specific, ultrasound in various departments can deliver a cost effective service to patients of assured quality. If it can, then specialist registrar training in gastroenterology should probably be focused on gastrointestinal areas only. If it cannot, then either gastroenterologists should undertake the full module as proposed by the Royal College of Radiologists or leave the technique to others with greater expertise. With increasing public awareness of potential variations in medical care both between and within institutions it is likely that those practising ultrasound will be required to have the necessary qualifications and to maintain their skills.

In conclusion, the majority of gastroenterology trainees wish to train in ultrasound and most would be prepared to receive training according to the Royal College of Radiologists’ guidelines if this were available. Ultrasound training is both expensive and limited by current training resources. Financial costs and available training resources would be somewhat reduced by limiting gastroenterological ultrasound training to hepatobiliary skills. Most gastroenterology trainees perceive a restricted focus of abdominal ultrasound training to be most appropriate to their clinical needs. The case mix of gastroenterology ultrasound examinations tends to support this viewpoint. Whether a limited training in this field is commensurate with providing an optimum service to patients requires further discussion.