Operative ultrasound in general surgery

BACKGROUND: Since the introduction of real-time B-mode ultrasound during surgery almost 20 years ago, the use of operative ultrasound (OUS) has gradually expanded to a variety of surgical fields. METHODS: A review of the history, technology, and specific applications of OUS in general surgery is presented with our clinical results of over 2300 operations. RESULTS: The benefits provided by OUS are the acquisition of new information not otherwise available, complement to or replacement for operative radiography, confirmation of satisfactory completion of an operation, and guidance of surgical procedures. OUS possesses many advantages as an intraoperative tool, including safety, speed, unique imaging information, wide applicability, high accuracy and procedure guidance capability. CONCLUSION: OUS is gaining wider acceptance in hepatobiliary, pancreatic, endocrine, and vascular surgery. Newer OUS modalities--color Doppler imaging and laparoscopic ultrasound-potentially may widen the applications of OUS in general surgery.