Joint position statement of the Societat Catalana de Digestologia and the Societat Catalana de Radiologia on gastroenterologist-led ultrasound in Catalonia. / Documento de posicionamiento de la Societat Catalana de Digestologia y la Societat Catalana de Radiologia: ecografía para especialistas en enfermedad digestiva en Catalunya.

Over recent years, ultrasonography has been used increasingly in various medical specialties and is now an indispensable diagnostic tool. In gastroenterology, bedside or point-of-care ultrasound allows the early diagnosis and monitoring of multiple intraabdominal conditions. Ultrasound guidance is also highly useful in certain therapeutic procedures, increasing procedural safety. Ultrasound is a non-invasive technique but has the drawback of being very operator dependent. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the professionals who perform ultrasonography have a sufficient level of training in the technique. In Catalonia, abdominal ultrasound is usually carried out by radiologists and has not yet been incorporated as an investigation performed by gastroenterologists. In view of this, the Societat Catalana de Radiologia and the Societat Catalana de Digestologia judged it necessary to develop a consensus framework document on ultrasound use and training for gastroenterologists. The document establishes the suggested format for training, the appropriate indications, the minimum material requirements and appropriate documentation of the procedure to ensure that gastroenterologist-performed ultrasound is useful and safe.