The Role of Ultrasound in the Ambulatory Setting

Abstract

Ultrasound use has become an integral part of modern medical practice in the past two decades. Ultrasound technology allows clinicians to quickly, easily, and safely identify patient anatomy for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Diagnostic ultrasound utilization includes transthoracic, abdominal, and airway assessment. Therapeutic ultrasound utilization includes securing difficult intravenous access, central hemodynamic access, and peripheral nerve blocks. The ease, quickness, and safety of ultrasound use has made it an integral component of ambulatory surgical centers’ healthare. This chapter will review the wide utility of ultrasound in ambulatory surgical centers.