https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-72620-8

Core Perspective

Departing from the product itself, focusing on clinical application scenarios, detailedly categorize and describe the specific functions and operational key points of ultrasound echo needles in various specialties such as vascular access, regional anesthesia, tumor biopsy, and fluid drainage.

The value of ultrasound echo needles ultimately lies in their clinical application. It has evolved from an auxiliary tool to a standard component in various minimally invasive surgeries. Next, we will delve into its practical applications in seven core areas.

I. Vascular Access: From "Random Injection" to "A Single Injection Cures the Disease"

This is one of the most widespread applications of ultrasound echo needles. Whether it is difficult venipuncture in the periphery, PICC catheterization, or central venous puncture (internal carotid, subclavian, or femoral vein), ultrasound guidance has significantly increased the success rate.

Value: Clearly shows the location, depth, direction, and presence of blood clots of the target vein and its accompanying arteries. Doctors can observe the needle tip accurately penetrating the anterior wall of the blood vessel in real-time images, avoiding perforating the posterior wall or injuring the arteries. This is particularly suitable for patients with poor vascular conditions such as shock, obesity, and those undergoing long-term chemotherapy.

II. Regional Anesthesia and Pain Management: Precise Blockade, Achieving Twice the Result with Half the Effort

In various nerve block procedures such as brachial plexus nerve block, sciatic nerve block, and transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block, the ultrasound echo needle enables anesthesiologists to achieve "seeing is believing".

Value: Precisely injecting the local anesthetic around the nerve sheath rather than within the nerve substance. This not only significantly enhances the blocking effect, accelerates the onset time, reduces the dosage, but is also more important in avoiding the risk of permanent nerve damage caused by intraneural injection. For the treatment of chronic pain, such as selective nerve root blockage, the echo needle can directly reach the lesion site and achieve targeted drug delivery.

III. Tissue Biopsy: The "Gold Standard" for Obtaining High-Quality Samples

For suspicious lesions in organs such as the thyroid, breast, liver, kidney, and prostate, ultrasound-guided biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosis.

Value: The echo needle can clearly show the relative position of the needle tip and the edge of the lesion. Doctors can precisely avoid the necrotic areas, major blood vessels, and important organs, and obtain sufficient tissue samples from the most diagnostic locations. This is particularly important in the diagnosis of early small tumors, as it can minimize the occurrence of false negative results.

IV. Effusion Drainage and Cyst Sclerotherapy: A Safe and Minimally Invasive "Clean-Up Agent"

Pleural effusion, ascites (abdominal fluid), liver abscess, renal cysts, ovarian cysts, etc., can all be addressed through ultrasound-guided puncture drainage or aspiration and sclerotherapy.

Value: Under real-time monitoring, doctors can choose the safest and shortest path to enter the fluid-filled area, avoiding the intestinal tract, lung lobes, diaphragm, and major blood vessels. During the drainage process, the needle tip position can be adjusted at any time to ensure smooth drainage. For cysts, after drawing out the cyst fluid, a sclerosing agent can be injected. The entire process is completed under visualization, which is safe and efficient.

V. Prenatal Diagnosis and Reproductive Medicine: Guarding the Beginning of Life

Amniocentesis and chorionic sampling are important prenatal diagnostic methods.

Value: The ultrasound echo needle can precisely enter the amniotic fluid pool or the placental villi area while avoiding the fetus, and obtain fetal cells for chromosome karyotype analysis. Clear needle tip imaging is the key to ensuring the safety of the fetus and avoiding damage.

VI. Interventional Therapy: Initiating the Era of Precise Local Attacks

In the treatments of tumors such as radiofrequency/microwave ablation, alcohol injection, and particle implantation, ultrasound echo needles are indispensable "guiding devices" and "executors".

Value: The doctor needs to precisely position the ablation electrode needle at the center of the tumor and make multiple points and multi-angle placements to achieve complete inactivation. The high visibility of the echo needle ensures the accuracy of the placement and enables real-time monitoring of the ablation area, protecting the surrounding normal tissues.

VII. Emergency Care and Intensive Care Unit (ICU): The Lifeline of Time-Constrained Resuscitation

In emergency situations, such as decompression of tension pneumothorax, puncture and drainage of pericardial effusion, and rapid establishment of deep venous access, ultrasound echo needles, due to their advantages of immediacy and no radiation, have become the preferred tool for bedside emergency treatment.

In conclusion, the application of ultrasound echo needles has permeated every aspect of clinical diagnosis and treatment. It is not only a "third eye" for doctors, but also an important practitioner of the concept of precise, safe, and minimally invasive medical care.