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An in-vitro study to understand successful free-hand ultrasound guided intervention
1Department of Clinical Radiology, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, Westbury-on-Trym, BS10 5NB, U.K.
Aims:
To describe the optimum conditions for successful free-hand ultrasound guided intervention using an in-vitro experiment.
Materials And Methods:
Optimal free-hand biopsy conditions were determined using targets buried in a purpose-built interventional phantom. The needle/probe distance and probe/phantom surface angle were changed whilst recording the needle track lengths and needle conspicuity.
Results:
Optimal free-hand conditions included a needle/probe distance of 2-3 cm in combination with a needle/probe angle 55-60 degrees. This enabled excellent needle conspicuity with short needle track length and early needle tip visualization.
Conclusion:
Understanding how to optimize the free-hand conditions will help the interventionalist to obtain greater performance using a variety of puncture devices. This concept is likely to be particularly important to the novice interventionalist as well as to those teaching the free-hand technique.