PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Jennifer Koichopolos
AU  - Richard Hilsden
AU  - Frank Myslik
AU  - Drew Thompson
AU  - Jeremy Vandelinde
AU  - Rob Leeper
TI  - Surgeon attitudes toward point of care ultrasound for biliary disease: a nationwide Canadian survey
AID  - 10.1503/cjs.010218
DP  - 2020 Feb 01
TA  - Canadian Journal of Surgery
PG  - E9--E12
VI  - 63
IP  - 1
4099  - http://canjsurg.ca/content/63/1/E9.short
4100  - http://canjsurg.ca/content/63/1/E9.full
SO  - CAN J SURG2020 Feb 01; 63
AB  - Multiple studies confirm that point of care ultrasound (PoCUS) has a high sensitivity and specificity for cholelithiasis and cholecystitis. However, there is poor perceived reliability of biliary PoCUS by surgeons. This survey was performed to assess surgeons’ opinions on using PoCUS in gallstone disease and barriers that exist for its institution. The majority (60.3%) of respondents reported a total lack of confidence in PoCUS for the diagnosis of biliary disease. Most felt the sensitivity of PoCUS was poor and had concerns about the user-dependent nature of the test and the lack of imaging details provided. If offered ideal clinical/laboratory findings with PoCUS results, only 4.7% of surgeons would definitely operate for unremitting biliary colic and 5.4% for cholecystitis. The ability to replicate findings independently increased confidence in clinical decision-making. Our findings suggest there is substantial distrust in biliary PoCUS but that specific ultrasound training for the surgical workforce may prove tremendously beneficial for its utilization.