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Review: indications for ultrasound use in low- and middle-income countries

Journal

TROPICAL MEDICINE & INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
Volume 16, Issue 12, Pages 1525-1535

Publisher

WILEY
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2011.02868.x

Keywords

ultrasound; sonography; developing countries; low resource setting; task-shifting; depistage du VIH; enfants d'age prescolaire; meres; soignants; Afrique du Sud; prueba del VIH; ninos en edad preescolar; madres; cuidadores; Sudafrica

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OBJECTIVE To determine the indications for using ultrasound, in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and to assess whether its use alters clinical management. METHODS Literature review. We conducted a Pubmed search on the clinical use of ultrasound in LMIC for articles published between January 2000 and December 2010, recording country of origin, speciality and whether ultrasound use led to a change in management. RESULTS Fifty-eight articles were identified from 32 countries and represented nine specialties. Ultrasound was most commonly used for assisting with the diagnosis of obstetrical conditions, followed by intra-abdominal conditions such as liver abscesses and intussusceptions. Clinical management was altered in >30% of cases. CONCLUSION Ultrasound is a highly valuable diagnostic tool in LMICs and its use should be considered essential for all district medical facilities. The use could be applied more widely, eg., for tropical and non-communicable diseases. Additional research is needed to further characterize the impact of task shifting on ultrasound use in LMICs.

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