Table 1 Organisational and infrastructural factors related to the use of ultrasound
From: Results from a Spanish national survey on the application of ultrasound in pulmonology services
Organisation and infrastructure | Total N = 104 | High-complexity centre N = 58 | Intermediate-complexity centre N = 30 | Low-complexity centre N = 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Availability of ultrasound scanners | ||||
Two exclusive-use ultrasound scanners are available in the pneumology service | 24/104 (23.0%) | 17/58 (29.3%) | 5/30 (16.6%) | 2/16 (12.5%) |
Three or more exclusive-use ultrasound scanners are available in the pneumology service | 27/104 (25.9%) | 22/58 (37.9%)a | 5/30 (16.6%) | 0/16 (0%) |
An ultrasound system is shared with other services | 13/104 (12.5%) | 2/58 (3.4%)a | 4/30 (13.3%)b | 7/16 (43.7%) |
Only one ultrasound machine is available in the pulmonology service | 34/104 (32.6%) | 14/58 (2.1%) | 14/30 (46.6%) | 6/16 (37.5%) |
No ultrasound scanner is available in the pulmonology service | 6/104 (5.7%) | 2/58 (3.4%) | 2/30 (6.6%) | 1/16 (6.25%) |
Probe availability | ||||
A linear, convex, and sector probe is available | 37/104 (35.5%) | 23/58 (39.6%) | 9/30 (30%) | 5/16 (31.2%) |
A linear and convex probe is available | 43/104 (41.3%) | 26/58 (44.8%) | 11/30 (36.6%) | 6/16 (37.5%) |
Only one probe is available | 21/104 (20.1%) | 9/58 (15.5%) | 8/30 (26.6%) | 4/16 (25%) |
Linear | 3/21 | 1/9 | – | 2/4 |
Convex | 13/21 | 4/9 | 7/8 | 2/4 |
Microconvex | 2/21 | 2/9 | – | – |
Sectorial | 3/21 | 2/9 | 1/8 | – |
New applications | ||||
Elastography is available | 14/104 (13.4%) | 9/58 (15.5%) | 3/30 (10%) | 2/16 (12.5%) |
Elastography type | ||||
Strain | 6/104 (5.7%) | 4/58 (6.8%) | 1/30 (3.3%) | 1/16 (6.2%) |
SWE | 0/104 (0%) | 0/58 (0%) | 0/30 (0%) | 0/16 (0%) |
Both | 8/104 (7.6%) | 5/58 (6.89%) | 2/30 (6.6%) | 1/16 (6.2%) |
Elastography probe | ||||
Linear | 2/104 (1.9%) | 1/58 (1.7%) | 0/30 (0%) | 1/16 (6.2%) |
Convex | 5/104 (4.8) | 3/58 (5.1%) | 2/30 (6.6%) | 0/16 (0%) |
Both | 7/104 (6.7%) | 5/58 (8.6%) | 1/30 (3.6%) | 1/16 (6.2%) |
EBUS elastography is available | 13/104 (12.5%) | 11/58 (18.9%) | 1/30 (3.3%) | 1/16 (6.25%) |
Dedicated LUS staff | ||||
LUS is performed only in the bronchopleural procedures area | 30/104 (28.8%) | 18/58 (31.0%) | 11/30 (36.6%)b | 1/16 (6.25%) |
LUS is performed in the bronchopleural procedures area and in the hospital ward on a routine basis | 59/104 (56.7%) | 32/58 (55.1%) | 17/30 (56.6%) | 10/16 (62.5%) |
A person specialised in performing LUS is available | 6/104 (5.7%) | 4/58 (6.8%) | 0/30 (0%) | 2/16 (12.5%) |