J. Torres Macho

Ecografía clínica abdominal y educación médica

INTRODUCTION Ultrasound is a very versatile diagnostic modality that permits real-time visualization of multiple internal organs. It is of invaluable help for the physical examination of the patients. AIM To assess if ultrasound can be incorporated into medical education and if the students can perform a basic abdominal ultrasound examination without the necessity of a long period of training. METHODOLOGY Twelve medical students were trained in basic abdominal ultrasound during a 15-h training program including a 5-h theoretical and practical course and supervised practice in 20 selected patients. Subsequently, we conducted an evaluation test that assessed the ability of students to obtain the ultrasound views and to detect various pathologies in five different patients. RESULTS The students were able to correctly identify the abdominal views more than 90% of the times. This percentage was only lower (80%) in the right subcostal view to locate the gallbladder. The accuracy or global efficiency of the ultrasound for the diagnosis of relevant pathological findings of the patients was greater than 90% (91.1% gallstones, abdominal aortic aneurysm 100%; splenomegaly 98.3%, ascites 100%; dilated inferior vena cava 100%; acute urinary retention 100%). CONCLUSION The ultrasound may be a feasible learning tool in medical education. Ultrasound can help students to improve the physical examination.

Pegylated interferon induced interstitial pneumonitis in a patient with hepatitis C infection

Pegylated interferon and ribavirin is the treatment of choice in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection. The most common side effects of interferon therapy are flu-like symptoms and psy chiatric disorders. Pneumonitis is a less frequent complication as sociated with non-negligible mortality. We herein report a case of interferon associated pneumonitis in a patient with non-severe clinical symptoms and a normal chest radiography. Physicians should be aware of this entity during the differential diagnosis of respiratory symptoms in patients receiving treatment with interfer on due to its high morbimortality and good resolution and out come after drug withdrawal.