Point of use ultrasound by general surgeons: Review of the literature and suggestions for future practice

BackgroundBedside ultrasound is increasingly commonly used by surgeons in their everyday practice. Little is known on the practical implications of bedside ultrasound, its efficacy and safety.ObjectivesTo carry out a review of the literature on bedside ultrasound as performed by surgeons.MethodsSearching was carried out through Ovid Medline 1950 to current; the Ovid EMBASE 1980 to current; Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PubMed and Google Scholar. Studies were eligible if they were any type of study relating to ultrasound scanning performed by surgeons or non-radiologists, using portable equipment and assessed as relevant by two reviewers. A narrative synthesis of the eligible studies was presented.ResultsThere was moderately good evidence for the routine use of ultrasound by surgeons at the bedside for Gallbladder, Thyroid, Parathyroid, DVT scanning and trauma scanning. There was weaker evidence for aortic, hernia, breast, arterial and venous scanning.ConclusionsEvidence exists for the routine use of certain types of bedside ultrasound in surgical practice, especially in hepatobiliary and head and neck scanning. Further study is needed to determine its utility in vascular, hernia and breast ultrasound.