[An analysis of the demand of endoscopic ultrasonography in Denmark]

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) has been available in Denmark for about 10 years. Capacity problems can occur, because only a few departments perform this procedure. The aim of the present study was to analyse the demand for EUS in Denmark.

Questionnaires (140) were sent out to departments in Denmark, which were presumed to refer patients for EUS on a regular basis.

One-hundred and seventeen questionnaires (84%) were returned. Twenty-three (20%) of the departments that returned the questionnaire stated that they never referred patients for EUS. The main reason was that patients, for whom EUS was considered necessary, were rarely treated in these departments (15 departments). Seventy departments (74%) referred 0-2 patients for EUS monthly. Twenty-one departments (22%) had problems in obtaining the number of investigations needed. There were significantly fewer problems in obtaining the desired number of investigations, if EUS was performed in the home county (p = 0.012). Thirty-eight per cent of the departments stated that more patients would be referred for EUS, if the procedure became more available in the future.

There seems to be too small a capacity for EUS in Denmark. Whether the capacity should be increased by establishing new centres or by extending the present ones is unknown. Both solutions have benefits and drawbacks.