Ultrasound-assisted Procedures Research Articles

Long-term Dependency for 3D Reconstruction of Freehand Ultrasound Without External Tracker.

Reconstructing freehand ultrasound in 3D without any external tracker has been a long-standing challenge in ultrasound-assisted procedures. We aim to define new ways of parameterising long-term dependencies, and evaluate the performance. First, long-term dependency is encoded by transformation positions within a frame sequence. This is achieved by combining a sequence model with a multi-transformation prediction. Second, two dependency factors are proposed, anatomical image content and scanning protocol, for contributing towards accurate reconstruction. Each factor is quantified experimentally by reducing respective training variances. 1) The added long-term dependency up to 400 frames at 20 frames per second (fps) indeed improved reconstruction, with an up to 82.4% lowered accumulated error, compared with the baseline performance. The improvement was found to be dependent on sequence length, transformation interval and scanning protocol and, unexpectedly, not on the use of recurrent networks with long-short term modules; 2) Decreasing either anatomical or protocol variance in training led to poorer reconstruction accuracy. Interestingly, greater performance was gained from representative protocol patterns, than from representative anatomical features. The proposed algorithm uses hyperparameter tuning to effectively utilise long-term dependency. The proposed dependency factors are of practical significance in collecting diverse training data, regulating scanning protocols and developing efficient networks. The proposed new methodology with publicly available volunteer data and code for parametersing the long-term dependency, experimentally shown to be valid sources of performance improvement, which could potentially lead to better model development and practical optimisation of the reconstruction application.

Sequential ultrasound-assisted extraction of pectin and phenolic compounds for the valorisation of ‘Granny Smith’ apple peel

This study aims to evaluate the impact of the sequential extraction system for phenolic compounds and pectin from waste ‘Granny Smith’ apple peel using ultrasound. The effects of solvent, formic acid concentration (CFA), and the number of extraction steps on the content of individual and total phenolic compounds (TPC), total flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity, were determined. Then, pectin was obtained from apple peel before (BE) and after (AE) phenolic compounds extraction, using conventional (TR) or ultrasound-assisted procedures (US). The two-steps 80% Acetone (0% CFA) extraction system had the highest TPC (3.47 g GAE/Kg). Procyanidin B2 (0.03–0.77 g/kg) was the major phenolic compound extracted from ‘Granny Smith’ apple peel. AE pectin extraction yield (6.38% for US and 4.92% for TR) was higher than BE. Pectin obtained had 57–60% DE, 9.3–10.3% Methoxyl content, and 436–460 equivalent weight. Wasted apple peel is a great low-cost source of phenolic compounds and pectin. Furthermore, it is possible to achieve the highest yields of both compounds through appropriate extraction sequences (AE: phenolic compound extraction followed by pectin extraction) and alternative technologies like ultrasound-assisted extraction.

Intralesional corticosteroid injection for the treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa: a multicenter retrospective clinical study

Background and objectives Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the follicular unit characterized by recurrent, painful, skin lesions including inflammatory nodules, abscesses, tunnels, and mutilating scarring. Intralesional corticosteroids injection (ICI) for HS has received little attention in the scientific literature. We evaluate the clinical response of ICI in acute and chronic HS lesions and aim to identify new applications of ultrasound-assisted procedures in HS management. Patients and methods An observational, retrospective, multicenter study of HS patients treated with ICI was conducted from January 1 to August 1, 2015. We collected 98 HS patients. A total of 135 individual lesions were infiltrated, including non-inflammatory nodules, inflammatory nodules abscesses and fistulous tracts. Results Complete response was reached in 95 lesions (70.37%), 34 showed partial response (25.19%) and 6 (4.44%) were non-response. A total of 105 individual lesions underwent sonographic scan before ICI. Conclusion Clinical experience supported the use of ICI for individual lesions. Our results showed that ICI is a useful treatment to control in acute and recalcitrant HS lesions. Response rates improve significantly if lesions are previously evaluated with HFUS.

Birth and Growth of an Ultrasound Hand Surgery Center: a review of 1167 procedures

Objectives With local anesthesia and new ultrasound-guided percutaneous procedures, it is now more often possible to perform hand surgery in minimal settings. Indeed, the authors argue that most hand surgery procedures could be performed in office surgeries. They have reported morbidities in a continuous series of 1167 ultrasound-assisted hand procedures performed under local anesthesia in a clinic setting. Methods Over a period of 3,5 years, 1167 in-office procedures (883 patients) were performed using specific ultrasound-guided techniques (previously published) under local anesthesia. We included 372 trigger fingers, 516 carpal tunnel releases, 28 de Quervain releases and 213 Dupuytren contractures, 7 lateral epicondylitis, 31 k-wire removal Exclusion criteria for office surgery were: - ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) grade 3 or higher - allergic history (latex, xylocaine…) - age over 85 Asepsis was achieved with a preoperative iodine shower and a 5-step antiseptic skin preparation.Fasting was forbidden and disease-modifying treatments, including anticoagulants, taken as usual. The WALANT technique was used for local anesthesia. All procedures were performed percutaneously under ultrasound guidance. Surgical blades were proscribed, only a 18 gauge needle was used for skin incision. All the instruments were thinner than 1.5 mm, non-disposable and cost less than 50 Bandages were removed by the patient. Bandages were removed by the patient the day after surgery. Morbidities were reported systematically: - before surgery, during local anesthesia (vagal faintness, panic attack) - during surgery (pain, excessive bleeding, faintness, mild heart attack) - after surgery (infection, Sudeck’s disease, hematoma, scarring problem) Individual procedure efficacy was assessed in previous studies and not included in this series. Results: Preoperative: - 21 vagal faintness, including 7 syncopes with spontaneous resolution (6 vagal faintness (with 3 syncopes) was observed in the last 1000 patients) - no panick attack Operative: - no pain felt - no excessive bleeding, no specific hemostasis procedure needed - no heart attack Postoperative: - 1 infection in a trigger finger requiring re-operation - 19 Sudeck’s disease - 10 mild hematoma after carpal tunnel release with spontaneous resolution Conclusion: The combination of the WALANT technique and ultrasound-assisted procedures provides an original approach that can be used in a clinic setting. The morbidities reported were at least equivalent to those published in standard operating theatre procedures; only one patient was re-operated (case of infection). Hand surgery can be performed in good conditions as in-office surgery using local anesthesia and ultrasound guidance.

Birth and growth of an ultrasound hand surgery center — A review of 900 procedures

With local anesthesia and new ultrasound-guided percutaneous procedures, it is now more often possible to perform hand surgery in minimal settings. Indeed, the authors argue that most hand surgery procedures could be performed in office surgeries. They have reported morbidities in a continuous series of 921 ultrasound-assisted hand procedures performed under local anesthesia in a clinic setting. Over a period of 3.5 years, 921 in-office procedures (635 patients) were performed using specific ultrasound-guided techniques (previously published) under local anesthesia. We included 265 trigger fingers, 418 carpal tunnel releases, 25 de Quervain releases and 202 Dupuytren contractures, 3 lateral epicondylitis, 8 flexor tendon sheath ganglions. Exclusion criteria for office surgery were: – ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) grade 3 or higher; – allergic history (latex, xylocaine…); – age over 85. Asepsis was achieved with a preoperative iodine shower and a 5-step antiseptic skin preparation. Fasting was forbidden and disease-modifying treatments, including anticoagulants, taken as usual. The WALANT technique was used for local anesthesia. All procedures were performed percutaneously under ultrasound guidance. Surgical blades were proscribed, only a 18 gauge needle was used for skin incision. All the instruments were thinner than 1.5 mm, non-disposable and cost less than 50 €. Bandages were removed by the patient the day after surgery. Morbidities were reported systematically: – before surgery, during local anesthesia (vagal faintness, panic attack); – during surgery (pain, excessive bleeding, faintness, mild heart attack); – after surgery (infection, Sudeck's disease, hematoma, scarring problem). Individual procedure efficacy was assessed in previous studies and not included in this series. Preoperative: – 18 vagal faintness, including 5 syncopes with spontaneous resolution; – no panick attack. Operative: – no pain felt; – no excessive bleeding, no specific hemostasis procedure needed; – no heart attack. Postoperative: – 1 infection in a trigger finger requiring re-operation; – 19 Sudeck's disease; – 10 mild hematoma after carpal tunnel release with spontaneous resolution. The combination of the WALANT technique and ultrasound-assisted procedures provides an original approach that can be used in a clinic setting. Three vagal faintness (without syncope) was observed in the last 400 patients. The morbidities reported were at least equivalent to those published in standard operating theatre procedures; only one patient was re-operated (case of infection). Hand surgery can be performed in good conditions as in-office surgery using local anesthesia and ultrasound guidance.

Hand surgery in a clinic setting using ultrasound percutaneous procedure: A review of 900 procedures

Introduction With local anesthesia and new ultrasound-guided percutaneous procedures, it is now more often possible to perform hand surgery in minimal settings. Indeed, the authors argue that most hand surgery procedures could be performed in office surgeries. They have reported morbidities in a continuous series of 921 ultrasound-assisted hand procedures performed under local anesthesia in a clinic setting. Method Over a period of 3.5 years, 921 in-office procedures (635 patients) were performed using specific ultrasound-guided techniques (previously published) under local anesthesia. We included 265 trigger fingers, 418 carpal tunnel releases, 25 de Quervain releases and 202 Dupuytren contractures, 3 lateral epicondylitis, 8 flexor tendon sheath ganglions. Exclusion criteria for office surgery were: – ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) grade 3 or higher; – allergic history (latex, xylocaine?); – age over 85. Asepsis was achieved with a preoperative iodine shower and a 5-step antiseptic skin preparation. Fasting was forbidden and disease-modifying treatments, including anticoagulants, taken as usual. The WALANT technique was used for local anesthesia. All procedures were performed percutaneously under ultrasound guidance. Surgical blades were proscribed, only a 18 gauge needle was used for skin incision. All the instruments were thinner than 1.5 mm, non-disposable and cost less than 50? Bandages were removed by the patient the day after surgery. Morbidities were reported systematically: – before surgery, during local anesthesia (vagal faintness, panic attack); – during surgery (pain, excessive bleeding, faintness, mild heart attack); – after surgery (infection, Sudeck's disease, hematoma, scarring problem). Individual procedure efficacy was assessed in previous studies and not included in this series. Results Preoperative: – 18 vagal faintness, including 5 syncopes with spontaneous resolution; – no panick attack. Operative: – no pain felt; – no excessive bleeding, no specific hemostasis procedure needed; – no heart attack. Postoperative: – 1 infection in a trigger finger requiring re-operation; – 19 Sudeck's disease; – 10 mild hematoma after carpal tunnel release with spontaneous resolution. Conclusion The combination of the WALANT technique and ultrasound-assisted procedures provides an original approach that can be used in a clinic setting. Three vagal faintness (without syncope) was observed in the last 400 patients. The morbidities reported were at least equivalent to those published in standard operating theatre procedures; only one patient was re-operated (case of infection). Hand surgery can be performed in good conditions as in-office surgery using local anesthesia and ultrasound guidance.

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous hand surgery in clinic settings – a review of 513 patients

With local anesthesia and new ultrasound-guided percutaneous procedures, it is now more often possible to perform hand surgery in minimal settings. Indeed, the authors argue that most hand surgery procedures could be performed in office surgeries. They have reported morbidities in a continuous series of 513 ultrasound-assisted hand procedures performed under local anesthesia in a clinic setting. Over a period of 2.5 years, 513 in-office procedures (402 patients) were performed using specific ultrasound-guided techniques (previously published) under local anesthesia. We included 142 trigger fingers, 241 carpal tunnel releases, 25 de Quervain releases and 105 Dupuytren contractures. Exclusion criteria for office surgery were: ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) grade 3 or higher allergic history (latex, xylocaine…) age over 85. Asepsis was achieved with a preoperative iodine shower and a 5-step antiseptic skin preparation. Fasting was forbidden and disease-modifying treatments, including anticoagulants, taken as usual. The WALANT technique was used for local anesthesia. All procedures were performed percutaneously under ultrasound guidance. Surgical blades were proscribed, only a 18-gauge needle was used for skin incision. All the instruments were thinner than 1.5 mm, non-disposable and cost less than 50 €. Bandages were removed by the patient the day after surgery. Morbidities were reported systematically – before surgery, during local anesthesia (vagal faintness, panic attack) – during surgery (pain, excessive bleeding, faintness, mild heart attack) – after surgery (infection, Sudeck's disease, hematoma, scarring problem) Individual procedure efficacy was assessed in previous studies and not included in this series. Preoperative – 15 vagal faintness, including 5 syncopes with spontaneous resolution, no panic attack. Operative – no pain felt, no excessive bleeding, no specific hemostasis procedure needed, no heart attack. Postoperative – 1 infection in a trigger finger requiring re-operation, 4 Sudeck's disease, 4 mild hematoma after carpal tunnel release with spontaneous resolution. The combination of the WALANT technique and ultrasound-assisted procedures provides an original approach that can be used in a clinic setting. No vagal faintness was observed in the last 400 patients. The morbidities reported were at least equivalent to those published in standard operating theatre procedures + only one patient was re-operated (case of infection). Hand surgery can be performed in good conditions as in-office surgery using local anesthesia and ultrasound guidance.

Management of Post-Traumatic Complications by Interventional Ultrasound: a Review

We reviewed the current literature to assess the feasibility of ultrasound-assisted and ultrasound-guided procedures for the treatment of post-traumatic complications and to address the indications and techniques of procedures. Non-operative strategies have been introduced in the treatment of severe trauma, and consequently, the incidence of some post-traumatic complications has increased. US can be useful both for the initial assessment of trauma patients and for the treatment of complications. Ultrasound-guided and ultrasound-assisted procedures as a therapeutic tool in the management of post-trauma settings are probably underused, in comparison with their successful use in other acute settings. Some new possible fields of clinical researches are suggested.

First Investigation on Ultrasound‐Assisted Preparation of Food Products: Sensory and Physicochemical Characteristics

This paper presents a comparison between manufactured food products using conventional and ultrasound-assisted procedures. Three different foam-type products, chocolate Genoise, basic sponge cake, and chocolate mousse were prepared using both methods with subsequent evaluation of the samples using both sensory and physicochemical methods. Ultrasound-assisted preparations were considered superior according to the sensory analysis, and physicochemical data confirmed this finding. This approach of applying an emerging piece of equipment, with potential industrial application to assist food preparation, consists of a new technique that could be of great interest for the development of not only other food products created by molecular gastronomy but also for practical work carried out by students.

Study of the classical and ultrasound-assisted extraction of the corn cob xylan

Various two-step extraction procedures with and without application of ultrasound in the first extraction step were used to isolate the xylan component of corn cobs in polymeric form. The obtained immunogenic water-soluble (ws-X) and the biologically inactive water-insoluble (wis-X) xylan fractions were characterised by yield, composition, structural and molecular properties. The yield of ws-X was strongly affected by the alkali concentration and extraction temperature, particularly in the ultrasound-assisted procedures. The results indicate a higher efficiency of the ultrasonic extraction procedures expressed in the shortening of extraction time, and lowering of the alkali concentration and extraction temperature. In contrast to the molecular properties, there were no significant differences between the sugar composition and main structural features of the ws-X fractions obtained by extraction in 5% NaOH with and without application of ultrasound. At similar levels of yield, the biological activity of the ultrasonically extracted ws-X preparations was higher.

Updates in Interventional Ultrasonography

Interventional ultrasonography, including diagnostic, therapeutic, and intraoperative interventions, is a rapidly developing field in both human and veterinary medicine. Growing expertise and significant improvements in the technology have contributed to the innovation of numerous ultrasound-assisted procedures. Ultrasound-guided biopsy and fine-needle aspiration are now commonly performed. New techniques and the indications for other procedures such as cavity drainage, indwelling catheter placement, and intraoperative procedures are presented.