Introduction to interventional ultrasound

Abstract

A few years ago a patient with weightloss, uncharacteristic upper abdominal sensations, slight obstipation and elevated sedimentation rate would probably have spent a couple of weeks undergoing quite a number of laboratory tests and conventional radiological procedures such as barium enema, X-ray of the stomach, a cholecystogram and probably also an IVP, without result. Not infrequently an exploratory laparotomy was the final diagnostic procedure. Although quite efficient it was a strain to the patient and, because of the extended hospital stay, expensive for the tax-payer.