Free-hand technique with ordinary antisepsis in abdominal US-guided fine-needle punctures: three-year experience.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the adequacy of ordinary antisepsis in ultrasound (US)-guided free-hand fine-needle puncture.


METHODS
Diagnostic and therapeutic procedures (n = 573) were performed in 456 patients. No puncture attachments, sterile gloves, or drapes or covers were used. Before each procedure the transducer was cleaned with a solution of water and 70% alcohol. No needles were contaminated. Patients were monitored for 5 days to exclude sepsis. Subsequently, the patients underwent follow-up blood and laboratory testing, including testing for for hepatitis B and C markers and human immunodeficiency virus antibodies, every 3 months for 6 months. The operators underwent the same follow-up for the first 6 months and for an additional 6 months.


RESULTS
No patient or operator presented with fever or sepsis or with negative viral or hepatitis markers that became positive during follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of this free-hand US-guided technique with ordinary antisepsis is safe for patients and operators, and it allows savings in time and the cost of materials.
Caturelli
E
E
Department of Gastroenterology, Ospedale Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Instituto Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Foggia, Italy.
Giacobbe
A
A
Facciorusso
D
D
Villani
M R
MR
Squillante
M M
MM
Siena
D A
DA
Cellerino
C
C
Andriulli
A
A
D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000985:Antisepsis / Q000379:methods*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014159:Transducers; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods