Ultrasound: A Useful Intraoperative Technique in Vascular Surgery

Recommendations by nephrologic and anesthetic societies justify use of ultrasound guidance for central venous catheter placement. These recommendations, imposed to health care facilities, permit to obtain this material. In vascular surgery, there is no recommendation to define the use of ultrasound and in the public sector, it’s difficult to find money for an ultrasound system. Arterial surgery is very frequently endovascular and percutaneous and, contrary to others European countries, french vascular surgeons are those who practice these techniques. Arterial puncture is easier if it is guided by ultrasound with less complications and time saving. In certain localizations as pedal artery for retrograde recanalization, puncture of superficial femoral or brachial artery, ultrasounds are essential. Others use exist in vascular operating room: checking deployment of vascular closure device, intraoperative control of carotid endarterectomy or peripheral bypass, realization of angioplasty of autogenous arteriovenous fistulas, venous puncture for endovenous obliteration for primary venous insufficiency. In substitution of arteriography, ultrasounds limit radiations exposure and consequences of iodinated contrast agents.The aim of this article was to demonstrate interest of ultrasounds for vascular surgeons in the operating room and necessity of recommendations imposed to health care facilities to allow to use and to teach this useful technique.