Ultrasound allows to shorten the time of diagnosis and pending specific indications in internal medicine.

-The SEMI considers that basic clinical ultrasound should be practiced by the internist, as reflected in the map of competencies of the internist Spanish

-ultrasound is useful for the evaluation of patients with acute respiratory failure, hypotension, tachycardia, and acute renal failure, among other

-portable ultrasound equipment avoids awkward movements, provide a great independence and facilitate repeat tests often need to be

Madrid, 2011-September ultrasound has been until recently a tool bit used in internal medicine services. However, recently it is becoming a very useful tool for the medical internist, to improve their capacity for physical examination of patients.

Ultrasound is a diagnostic procedure that is available to any doctor. It is currently used by radiologists, cardiologists, urologists and other specialists, and is now a reality in daily practice of the internist ” points out Dr. Gonzalo García de Casasola, Coordinator of the Group of ultrasound clinic recently created by the Spanish society of internal medicine (SEMI). There are certain procedures echographic to which it is possible to get great performance with a basic training ”, adds the expert.

The creation of the new group will have as main objectives the planning of a strategy of training in medical ultrasound society, stimulate interest on it and bring together all internists with affinity and interest in ultrasound and its application within the scope of the specialty.

In relation to these objectives, the group is organizing already basic courses – at the end of 2011 will have provided about 20 of them – and in 2012 to make others more specialized on ultrasound cardiac insufficiency, cardiovascular risk, or thromboembolic disease. Also, since the group is preparing a manual of clinical ultrasound directed specifically to the internist.

The advantages of ultrasound clinic in practice of the internist

Technological advances have given the possibility of having very manageable laptops that allow doctors to make explorations on foot of bed. According to Dr. García de Casasola, this greatly facilitates their use by doctors who have direct responsibility for patients, avoids awkward movements that usually determine waits often impractical, provides a great independence and makes it easy to repeat the test many times as necessary. Ultrasound is very likely to be one instrument available to the internist in process diagnostic and therapeutic, which will be used almost as frequently as the fonendoscopio. Without a doubt, will help us become better doctors ”, explains the expert.

There are several processes in which ultrasound is useful for the internist, as the evaluation of patients with acute respiratory failure, hypotension, and tachycardia and acute renal failure.

At least ”, indicates Dr. García de Casasola, talking about very specific aspects within the ultrasound; for example, it is especially useful for the assessment of the State of infusing the sick, deep venous thrombosis detection, assessment of fluid free intra-abdominal, the estimation of the size of the liver and spleen. It is also useful for the study of gallbladder and bile duct, the evaluation of hydronephrosis and acute retention of urine, the initial guidance of patients with cardiomegaly, alterations electrocardiographic or heart failure, etc. ”.

On the other hand, ultrasound is helpful to guide invasive procedures usually performed the internists, such as thoracentesis and paracentesis and accessing central venous lines.