title: Puncture procedures utilizing transvaginal ultrasonic guidance.
abstract: The introduction of transvaginal sonography has enabled the use of this scanning method for guided puncture procedures. A total of 102 puncture procedures are described: 63 fetal reductions, eight punctures of ectopic pregnancies, 19 drainages of pelvic contents, seven punctures of ovarian cysts, four diagnostic culdocenteses and one injection of a cervical pregnancy. Every procedure is discussed in detail. There was only one procedure-related complication. The advantages of the ultrasound-guided vaginal puncture procedure are its performance under real-time imaging, a low complication rate, a better pregnancy outcome when considering the reduction of multifetal gestations, and, most importantly, the fact that abdominal surgery can be avoided in several cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Ultrasound, Sloane Hospital for Women, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, New York City, New York 10032, USA.
authors.forename: I E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Timor-Tritsch
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Peisner
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Monteagudo