[Use of a portable ultrasound system in the perisurgical assessment of head and neck patients].

PURPOSE

The use of high resolution ultrasound is an established diagnostic method. A disadvantage of current high end systems is that transporting the device into the operating theatre or an intensive care unit requires time and logistic effort. We report results of an evaluation of a portable ultrasound system in the diagnosis and treatment of the head and neck area. Indications and value of a portable device in the clinical setting of an operation theatre and intensive care unit were assessed.

METHODS

Within a period of 5 months, 48 patients were included in this prospectively designed study using a portable ultrasound system with B-scan/color Doppler mode (SonoSite TITAN, Firma SonoSite® Germany) and an 7.5 MHz broadband linear array transducer. Two experienced physicians recorded the location and examination conditions, imaging mode, time expenditure, indication and diagnosis. The examiner also commented about whether the use of a portable laptop system considerably improved the therapy decision. The analysis included descriptive statistics for interpretation of the results.

RESULTS

The most frequent use of the ultrasound system was the pre- or intrasurgical "pinpointing" of tumours in the soft tissues of the neck or in salivary glands. The average time for the examination was 6 min. In 79 % of the cases, the examiner stated a definite improvement of the therapy decision through the use of the portable ultrasound.

CONCLUSION

We could demonstrate that a portable ultrasound system is a time-saving, economic and ubiquitously applicable method of imaging. Diagnosis and surgical planning are optimized. Thus, in larger hospitals and clinics, a portable ultrasound device is a logical complement to a stationary unit.