ULTRASOUND TECHNIQUE

Ultrasound is used in interventional for access and biopsy. Access can be for a vein or an artery, a central line or a liver or pulmonary intervention. Access can also mean for organ or fluid collection drain placement. Ultrasound can be used for superficial biopsy all over the body as well. 

Some basics about ultrasound are:

• You will rock the probe back and forth to be able to see.
• There is a mark on the probe that will tell you the top of the screen and the left side of the screen.
• There are different probes for different parts of the body. 
• You can use depth to make the image larger or deeper in the body.
• Just like with radiation, larger bodies can make imaging harder with ultrasound.
• There is color that allows you to see flow. Red is towards you, blue is away.
• You can measure vessel sizes and flow velocity among other things. 

To use ultrasound in a sterile procedure, you will need to verify that you can see the target can be visualized with ultrasound before getting started. So, to do this you need to make sure you're choosing the right probe for the anatomy you're looking for. Also, you need to understand in what plane you need to visualize the area of interest. For example, a vessel is usually looked at in a sagittal plane where you only see a slice through the artery.

Lesson Summary

Ultrasound is a versatile technique used in interventional procedures for various purposes such as access and biopsy:

• Access can be for a vein, artery, central line, liver, pulmonary intervention, organ, or fluid collection drain placement.
• Ultrasound can be utilized for superficial biopsies throughout the body.

Key points about using ultrasound include:

• Rocking the probe back and forth improves visibility.
• A mark on the probe indicates the top and left side of the screen.
• Different probes are used for different body parts.
• Using depth adjusts the image size and depth within the body.
• Size can impact imaging quality similar to radiation methods.
• Color is employed to visualize flow (red denotes towards, blue away), measure vessel sizes, and flow velocity.

When using ultrasound for sterile procedures:

• Verification that the target can be visualized with ultrasound prior to the procedure is essential.
• Selection of the appropriate probe for the anatomy and understanding the necessary visualization plane are crucial.

For instance:

• A vessel is typically examined in a sagittal plane, where only a slice through the artery is visible.