title: Ultrasound: an extension of clinical examination.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the impact the use of portable ultrasound can have for the benefit of the patients when used by doctors other than radiologist, in this case surgeons.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ultrasound performed by surgeons in the pre-operative, operative and post-operative period was studied. Patients presenting to the Hospital with acute abdomen was subjected to ultrasound. They were either pre-operative or post-operative patients. Five patients were scanned intraoperatively. The impact of these scans to the patients as well as the clinicians was studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This is an ongoing study and preliminary results of the scans show two pre-operative diagnosis of acute appendicular collection and one acute hydronephrosis. In the operation room, ultrasound was done on 5 cases. On three occasions, it was to locate renal stones so that it could be extracted with ease. On two of the case, it was t to confirm the adequacy of common bile duct exploration thereby allowing primary closure of the common bile duct. Post-operatively, it was used in four cases of which in two cases post-operative hemorrhage were detected timely within hours. In the other two cases, the surgical team was assured that the patient's complaint was not surgically related.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasound should be an extension of the clinical examination when indicated and all clinicians should be proficient in its use in their respective fields.
authors.affiliation: Minimal Access Intervention Unit, Sarvanga Hospital, Kathmandu. drsingh5@yahoo.com
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.forename: U M S
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Dangol
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Koirala
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Pradhan
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Shrestha
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Mishra
mesh_terms: D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography