Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Drainage Procedures

Ultrasound-guided procedures, especially those that are for needle guidance, are all based on the learned skill of being able to track the needle tip the entire time, while it is in the patient under ultrasound imaging. By learning this critical skill, the physician should feel confident in the successful completion of both simple and more complicated, invasive procedures. Ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage or aspiration of abnormal fluid collections is becoming standard of care in current clinical practice. Ultrasound guidance has led to reduced morbidity and mortality and decrease in length of stay and healthcare costs. Ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage is minimally invasive and relatively inexpensive and has several advantages over CT including real-time guidance and lack of radiation.