[Ultrasound-guided interventions and description of the equipment]

For many years ultrasound-guided biopsy and drainage has represented a routine part of clinical practice. Percutaneous biopsy and drainage are minimally invasive procedures for sampling tissue or the removal of fluid collections within the body. Differing image guidance techniques for the positioning of the needles/catheters are in use. This is due to the advancement of effectiveness and safety of modern guidance methods. For the management of abscesses, percutaneous drainage is more effective (depending on the size) than percutaneous needle aspiration and is being increasingly used as the first-line treatment. This shift in practice is driven by the preference for low-risk, minimally invasive procedures and thus using surgical interventions only when percutaneous drainage has been unsuccessful. However, the variety of biopsy needles and drainage systems available to the clinician can appear overwhelming. We present a literature review regarding the devices and materials currently available to achieve the most reliable results with the lowest level of complications. With regard to drainage systems, particular considerations include the consistency of fluid, path of access and guidance technique. Although we present comparisons between published studies, it is important to consider that the personal experience of the interventionalist will also have an impact on the device chosen.