Portable ultrasonography - would you do it if you could?
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Radiology
Portable ultrasonography - would you do it if you could?
Chat about radiology with radiologists and those who want to get into the speciality
Some years ago, the front cover of the BMJ sported a doctor with a portable ultrasound machine slung round her neck in place of the traditional stethoscope. How I wish I could use one of these things!
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Cat:OpenClinicalForum:RadiologyDiscussion:b5a3bbfe-2655-4736-ab22-4fe27b639ab0
Forums » Open clinical » Radiology » Portable ultrasonography - would you do it if you could?
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Re: Portable ultrasonography - would you do it if you could?
posted at 23/9/2011 11:41 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 33
First: 4/12/2010 Last: 7/3/2013 |
Once per year I work on a cruise ship. Since last year they've got a brand new digital x-ray machine. I was surprised how easy it is to make a picture. Never in my training as a GP have I been shown how to make an x-ray. One of the nurses showed me how to do this. It is as easy as taking a picture with any other camera. Click.. (one has to wear a lead jacket) and 2 minutes later a crisp and clear beautiful picture on the computer screen. If this can be done on ships at sea for a population of a 800 passengers and crew. How could this not be feasible in the average GP practice with a list size of 5000-10.000 The patient satisfaction is enormous. Clinicians satisfaction too. And one can always email the image for a second opinion. I guess many fear for their jobs once it is clear how easy certain technology is. |
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Re: Portable ultrasonography - would you do it if you could?
posted at 4/11/2011 6:21 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 326
First: 27/10/2011 Last: 14/6/2013 |
i would encourage all clinicians to embrace the use of ultrasound in their own practice. from a clinical perspective, you need to keep doing it to get trained and stay competent, but the reward is the satisfaction of making a diagnosis sooner and the ability to enhance your own examination skills with immediate feedback. the benefits for ultrasound-guided intervention are now well established and virtually a no-brainer! i couldn't possibly imagine anyone attempting a blind biopsy these days. from a radiology perspective, one exciting nature of the specialty (for me, anyway) is that technology is constantly driving us forward, for now. this means that we always have some new imaging toy to play with, and can leave the more established techniques in the hands of others. reporting radiographers and ultrasonographers are a fine example of how this has already happened - they have played a vital role in enabling radiology departments to cope with increased workload and the technically and diagnostically more challenging end of the imaging spectrum. just like other computer driven devices, ultrasound machines are tied to moore's law. while some aspects of the imaging process are bound by the laws of physics (such as lensing of the ultrasound waves and the inverse relationship of depth penetration and resolution), the computer techhy bits just keep getting smaller. in a nutshell - bring on the pocket ultrasound to replace the stethoscope!
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Re: Portable ultrasonography - would you do it if you could?
posted at 16/11/2011 7:25 AM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 5
First: 10/11/2011 Last: 17/11/2011 |
Really radiology career is very dynamic. Everyday new equipments and imaging procedures are coming, and radiologists have that much skill to learn it fast. For example an ultrasound technician get training for using ultrasound high frequency sound waves to produce images of internal body tissues. But then while working they gradually learn analyzing those images, suggesting patients for treatment and upgrading their knowledge about new equipments. This is why I think they are also offered high salary in the job market. http://ultrasoundtechschool.org/ultrasound-tech-average-salary/ Opportunities for ultrasound techs is also high as ultrasound is becoming an increasingly attractive alternative to other imaging procedures, as patients seek safer and cheaper treatment methods. |
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Re: Portable ultrasonography - would you do it if you could?
posted at 22/11/2011 2:13 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 177
First: 23/12/2010 Last: 26/4/2013 |
Many companies have now introduced the "Ultrasound stethoscope" .. ultra portable ultrasound machines for bedside diagnosis.. and I was surprised at the reasonable image quality in some of them. With the internet, you could always learn sonography as you work.... Joe. |
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Re: Portable ultrasonography - would you do it if you could?
posted at 22/11/2011 2:32 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 93
First: 18/3/2011 Last: 4/3/2013 |
I saw this the other day. Really neat but so far used mostly in emerging world. http://vscanultrasound.gehealthcare.com/pages/physicians |
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Re: Portable ultrasonography - would you do it if you could?
posted at 22/11/2011 10:30 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 2136
First: 12/3/2010 Last: 19/6/2013 |
Another plug from me for the BBC programme Frontline Medicine, from Camp Bastion: http://doc2doc.bmj.com/forums/off-duty_general_watch-frontline-medicine-bbc2 We saw the imaging consultant wielding what looked to me like a hand-held Sonosite, that he used to scan a casualty for intra-abdominal trauma, to help his colleagues in their trauma survey, and to help him decide if a full CT was needed or not. My anaesthesia colleagues use them for blocks; my surgical colleagues to perform varicose vein surgery. I'd still suggest that Bone's Tricorder is a long way away, but that devices that use ultrasound and are specilised for a particular purpose are already enetering use. JOhn |
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Re: Portable ultrasonography - would you do it if you could?
posted at 23/11/2011 2:28 AM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 177
First: 23/12/2010 Last: 26/4/2013 |
I've not seen the newer models of sonosite.....but the older versions could do with some improvement...All these ultra portable machines (Vscan etc) need follow up ultrasound on higher end machines to confirm the diagnosis (in my opinion)......but in a couple of years things should get rosier for ultrasound imaging and cozier for the companies as sales pick up with possibly 3D and other gimmicky stuff on these portables... ;-) Joe. In Response to Re: Portable ultrasonography - would you do it if you could?: Another plug from me for the BBC programme Frontline Medicine, from Camp Bastion: http://doc2doc.bmj.com/forums/off-duty_general_watch-frontline-medicine-bbc2 We saw the imaging consultant wielding what looked to me like a hand-held Sonosite, that he used to scan a casualty for intra-abdominal trauma, to help his colleagues in their trauma survey, and to help him decide if a full CT was needed or not. My anaesthesia colleagues use them for blocks; my surgical colleagues to perform varicose vein surgery. I'd still suggest that Bone's Tricorder is a long way away, but that devices that use ultrasound and are specilised for a particular purpose are already enetering use. JOhn
Posted by John D |
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Re: Portable ultrasonography - would you do it if you could?
posted at 30/11/2011 10:04 AM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 7
First: 22/11/2011 Last: 30/11/2011 |
In Response to Re: Portable ultrasonography - would you do it if you could?: Many companies have now introduced the "Ultrasound stethoscope" .. ultra portable ultrasound machines for bedside diagnosis.. and I was surprised at the reasonable image quality in some of them. With the internet, you could always learn sonography as you work.... Joe. Posted by drjoea Recent advances in ultrasound technology have led to the development of such a portable ultrasound machines. These can provide immediate assessment of heart morphology and physiology at the time of even the first examination of the patient. Now it's possible to add sonography at the examination encounter. |
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Re: Portable ultrasonography - would you do it if you could?
posted at 8/8/2012 2:50 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1
First: 8/8/2012 Last: 8/8/2012 |
Some interesting information about portable ultrasound devices here; |
Forums » Open clinical » Radiology » Portable ultrasonography - would you do it if you could?
