Alessandro Zanforlin1, Francesco Tursi2, Giampietro Marchetti3, Giulia Michela Pellegrino4,5, Beatrice Vigo6, Andrea Smargiassi7, Riccardo Inchingolo7, Stefano Centanni6, Stefano Gasparini8,9, Francesco Blasi10,11, Gino Soldati12, Giuseppe Francesco Sferrazza Papa4,5. 1. Medicina Interna, Ospedale Centrale di Bolzano, Azienda Sanitaria dell'Alto Adige, Bolzano, Italy, alessandro.zanforlin@gmail.com. 2. UOC Pneumologia, ASST Lodi, Lodi, Italy. 3. Cardiothoracic Department, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Spedali Civili Hospital of Brescia, Brescia, Italy. 4. Casa Cura Policlinico, Department of Neurorehabilitation Sciences, Milan, Italy. 5. Dipartimento Scienze della Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy. 6. Respiratory Unit, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, Dipartimento Scienze della Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy. 7. UOC di Pneumologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy. 8. Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Universitá Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy. 9. Pulmonary Diseases Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria "Ospedali Riuniti", Ancona, Italy. 10. Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Internal Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. 11. Respiratory Unit and Cystic Fibrosis Adult Center, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy. 12. Emergency Medicine Unit, Valle del Serchio General Hospital, Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Italy.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Thoracic ultrasound is accurate in the diagnosis of a wide range of respiratory diseases. Yet the extent of its use is unknown. Through a national survey, we aimed to explore the clinical use of thoracic ultrasound and the barriers to the diffusion of the technique in Italy. METHODS: Accademia di Ecografia Toracica (AdET) developed a self-administered survey which was sent by email to Italian pulmonologists via national scientific societies and networks. RESULTS: Of the 2010 physicians invited, 514 completed the survey (26% response rate). According to 99% of responders, thoracic ultrasound had a relevant clinical role. Seventy-nine percent of the responders used thoracic ultrasound at least once a month. The main settings were: 53% pulmonology ward, 15% outpatient clinic, 15% interventional pulmonology room, 10% internal medicine ward, 4% respiratory intensive care units, and 9% other. Thoracic ultrasound was primarily used: (1) with both diagnostic and interventional aims (72%), (2) as diagnostic imaging (17%), and (3) as guidance for interventional procedures (11%). The main clinical applications were: (1) diagnosis and management of pleural effusion, (2) pneumothorax, (3) pneumonia, (4) cardiac failure, and (5) acute dyspnea. Twenty-one percent of the responders do not use thoracic ultrasound. The main reported bar-riers were: (1) availability of an ultrasound system (52%), (2) lack of protected time and training (22%), and (3) use of the technique by other specialists (15%). CONCLUSION: Thoracic ultrasound is widely used by Italian pulmonologists and considered a clinically relevant tool. The availability of dedicated ultrasound systems seems to be a major limit of the use of the technique.
INTRODUCTION: Thoracic ultrasound is accurate in the diagnosis of a wide range of respiratory diseases. Yet the extent of its use is unknown. Through a national survey, we aimed to explore the clinical use of thoracic ultrasound and the barriers to the diffusion of the technique in Italy. METHODS:Accademia di Ecografia Toracica (AdET) developed a self-administered survey which was sent by email to Italian pulmonologists via national scientific societies and networks. RESULTS: Of the 2010 physicians invited, 514 completed the survey (26% response rate). According to 99% of responders, thoracic ultrasound had a relevant clinical role. Seventy-nine percent of the responders used thoracic ultrasound at least once a month. The main settings were: 53% pulmonology ward, 15% outpatient clinic, 15% interventional pulmonology room, 10% internal medicine ward, 4% respiratory intensive care units, and 9% other. Thoracic ultrasound was primarily used: (1) with both diagnostic and interventional aims (72%), (2) as diagnostic imaging (17%), and (3) as guidance for interventional procedures (11%). The main clinical applications were: (1) diagnosis and management of pleural effusion, (2) pneumothorax, (3) pneumonia, (4) cardiac failure, and (5) acute dyspnea. Twenty-one percent of the responders do not use thoracic ultrasound. The main reported bar-riers were: (1) availability of an ultrasound system (52%), (2) lack of protected time and training (22%), and (3) use of the technique by other specialists (15%). CONCLUSION: Thoracic ultrasound is widely used by Italian pulmonologists and considered a clinically relevant tool. The availability of dedicated ultrasound systems seems to be a major limit of the use of the technique.
Authors: Marina Attanasi; Simone Pasini; Antonio Caronni; Giulia Michela Pellegrino; Paola Faverio; Sabrina Di Pillo; Matteo Maria Cimino; Giuseppe Cipolla; Francesco Chiarelli; Stefano Centanni; Giuseppe Francesco Sferrazza Papa Journal: Respiration Date: 2020-08-05 Impact factor: 3.580
Authors: Samy Zaky; Mohamed Elbadry; Fathiya El-Raey; Alshaimaa Eid; Eman E Elshemy; Amin Abdel Baki; Hanaa K Fathelbab; Sherief M Abd-Elsalam; Hoda A Makhlouf; Nahed A Makhlouf; Mohamed A Metwally; Fatma Ali-Eldin; Ali Abdelazeem Hasan; Mohamed Alboraie; Ahmed M Yousef; Hanan M Shata; Noha Asem; Asmaa Khalaf; Mohamed A Elnady; Mohamed Elbahnasawy; Ahmed Abdelaziz; Shaker W Shaltout; Atef Wahdan; Mohamed S Hegazi; Mohamed Hassany Journal: Infect Drug Resist Date: 2022-04-20 Impact factor: 4.177