Vatsvåg Victoria, Todnem Kjetil, Næsheim Torvind, Cathcart John, Kerr Daniel, Oveland Nils Petter
School Health Sciences, Ulster University, Co., Antrim, UK.
Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Quality and Health Technology, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway.
Ultrasound J. 2020 Jul 2;12(1):33. doi: 10.1186/s13089-020-00180-9.
Telementored ultrasound (US) connects experts to novices through various types of communication and network technologies with the overall aim to bridge the medical imaging gap between patients' diagnostic needs and on-site user experience. The recurrent theme in previous research on remote telementored US is the limited access to US machines and experienced users. This study was conducted to determine whether telementored US was feasible in a remote offshore setting. The aim was to assess if an onshore US expert can guide an offshore nurse through focused US scanning protocols by connecting an US machine to existing videoconference units at the offshore hospitals and to evaluate the diagnostic quality of the images and cineloops procured.
The diagnostic quality of cineloops was scored on a five-point scale. The percentage of cineloops suitable for interpretation (score 3 ≥) for the FATE and e-FAST protocols was 96.4 and 79.1. Lung sliding and seashore sign could be identified in all volunteers. The scan time for the FAST protocol (n = four scanning positions), FATE protocol (n = six scanning positions) and both lungs (n = two scanning positions) was 1 min 20 s, 4 min 15 s and 32 s, respectively.
A novice US user can be guided by a remote expert through focused US protocols within an acceptable time frame and with good diagnostic quality using existing communication and network systems found onboard offshore oil rigs.
远程指导超声（US）通过各种通信和网络技术将专家与新手联系起来，总体目标是弥合患者诊断需求与现场用户体验之间的医学影像差距。先前关于远程指导超声的研究中反复出现的主题是超声设备和经验丰富的用户获取有限。本研究旨在确定远程指导超声在偏远海上环境中是否可行。目的是评估岸上超声专家能否通过将超声设备连接到海上医院现有的视频会议设备，指导海上护士进行针对性超声扫描方案，并评估获取的图像和动态图像的诊断质量。
动态图像的诊断质量采用五分制评分。FATE和e-FAST方案中适合解读（评分≥3分）的动态图像百分比分别为96.4%和79.1%。所有志愿者均能识别肺滑动和海岸征。FAST方案（n = 四个扫描位置）、FATE方案（n = 六个扫描位置）和双侧肺（n = 两个扫描位置）的扫描时间分别为1分20秒、4分15秒和32秒。
在海上石油钻井平台上使用现有的通信和网络系统，新手超声用户可以在可接受的时间范围内，在远程专家的指导下通过针对性超声方案获得具有良好诊断质量的结果。
