Application of intra-cavitary contrast enhanced ultrasound in the location of drainage tubes / 中华超声影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the value of intra-cavitary contrast enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)in the location of drainage tubes which were unclear in conventional ultrasonography. Methods The locations of 32 drainage tubes in 26 patients were unclear in conventional ultrasonography. The diluted ultrasound contrast agent (SonoVue) was injected through the tubes. CEUS was used to evaluate the visualizations of the inner tubular portions and the distal ends. Whether the drainage tubes were in situ or not was also judged. The time-consumption of detection was counted. Results The percentages of the visualization of inner tubular portions and the distal ends in conventional ultrasonography were 52.25%(18/32) and 0,respectively. However,the percentages of visualization in CEUS were 100% and 93.75%(30/32), respectively. The difference were significant when compared conventional ultrasonography with CEUS ( P＜0.001 ). CEUS detected that three drainage tubes weren't in situ. And the median of timeconsumption of CEUS was just 4. 5 seconds (range 1-77 seconds). Conclusions Intra-cavitary CEUS is a sensitive and high efficient technique in the visualization of drainage tube which may complement the insufficiency of conventional ultrasonography. It could be used as the first choice in the location of drainage tube.