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Why Can't He Eat or Drink After Midnight? - March 2016 - Subscribe to Outpatient Surgery Magazine

Outpatient Surgery Magazine, providing current information on Surgical Services, Surgical Facility Administration, Outpatient Surgery News and Trends, OR Excellence and more.

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3. Accurate ultrasound The goal of most modern ultrasound machines is enhanced imaging with an easy-to-use interface. The latest options are more user-friend- ly and feature designs such as tablet-based models for increased portability and intuitive touchscreens. One item to look at while shopping for devices is the ultrasound probe itself. The updated options now include hot buttons on the handpiece that let the user save, print or freeze an image instantly with the push of a button. It's a small thing, but it prevents the provider from having to stop what he's doing and manipulate the screen during placement. That can be a big timesaver, especially if you have limited staff and the clinician placing the block is also con- trolling the ultrasound. Enhanced visualization is also a key feature. New models may offer needle visualization technology that let the user more easily see the needle, even when working at a steep angle. There are also "high-defi- nition" ultrasound machines available, which provide a better quality image, so even beginner practitioners can place blocks. While these advancements are certainly helpful, there is a huge growth expected in this area in the future. Soon-to-market products include machines that use magnetics or GPS to determine precisely where the needle is located during a block placement. Magnetic ultra- sound probes will be able to sense the needle tip and use algorithms to show the provider an exact location on screen, even if the needle isn't perfectly in plane. GPS models may take it a step further and use small GPS sensors to track a particular needle during insertion. These sorts of advances would help less-skilled practitioners enhance the efficacy and safety of their blocks. M A R C H 2 0 1 6 • O U T PA T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T • 6 3

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