Ultrasound Guidance: For Interventional and Intraoperative Techniques in Infants and Children

Since the advent of improved realtime ultrasound (US) imaging and the availability of the needle biopsy attachment, US-guided percutaneous biopsy and the drainage procedure can be performed safely in the pediatric patient. The authors review their experience over 3 years using US-guided interventional techniques in 96 children aged 5 days to 21 years. A wide variety of procedures were performed and included renal biopsy, nephrostomy tube placement, renal mass biopsy, puncture of bladder sinus tract and pancreatic pseudocyst, ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement and intraoperative localization of brain or renal tumor and renal calculi. No complication occurred. US can be safely and accurately used as guide for interventional procedures in children as long as the area of interest can be clearly demonstrated and the depth and necessary angle of needle insertion can be predetermined as feasible.