Work in progress CAVUS: transcaval ultrasonography of abdominal organs. Preliminary results

Endoluminal sonography using tiny transducers (20 MHz) has found wide application in various fields of investigation. We have applied the same technology to the assessment of abdominal organs using the transcaval route (CAVUS). Normal vessels and both normal and dilated bile ducts were displayed. Although the procedure is simple and safe, and the images produced are excellent, to be useful clinically, microtransducers (6 or 7 MHz) will have to be developed. This technique holds much promise, and further miniaturization will allow greatly expanded use of endoluminal approaches.