Service development of POCUS in the IBD clinic
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Does the use of point of care ultrasound during inflammatory bowel disease clinic appointments change management, speed up treatment decisions and save money: a feasibility and service development study
IRAS ID
322339
Contact name
William Blad
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London Hospital
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) incidence is rising and it is estimated that it will affect over 1% of the population by 2025. These diseases often affect children and young adults and complications are associated with significant morbidity. Early treatment can prevent complications and achieve better outcomes and so strategies to speed up the diagnostic pathway are essential. Considerable delays are often due to waiting lists and reporting times of endoscopy and imaging.
The use of bowel ultrasound (BUS) is well established but is less developed in the UK, with its use limited to specialist centres and performed by radiologists. It is a sensitive and specific investigation for IBD and can be delivered using a portable ultrasound machine within the clinic setting. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has been showed to change clinical decision making but there is limited evidence as to whether this will speed up diagnosis, allowing earlier treatment and therefore reducing complications. Also, data on the accuracy of POCUS compared with departmental imaging is lacking.
The study will aim to determine whether POCUS will result in earlier treatment initiation and whether this reduces complications, hospital admissions and steroid usage. This trial will be used as a service development study to determine which groups of patients would benefit most from POCUS and the potential cost savings that would be associated with it.
We will use patients being seen in the IBD clinic at University College London Hospital who either have a known diagnosis of IBD or have a strong suspicion of IBD. Participants will be randomised to receive POCUS during the clinical appointment or to receive standard of care. Decision making throughout will follow standard of care. Follow-up will last for one year following the ultrasound and we would expect recruitment to be open for six months.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/EE/0075
Date of REC Opinion
4 Apr 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion