title: Utility of compact ultrasound in a mass surgical selection program in Africa: experience of a sonologist at the MV Africa Mercy Hospital Ship's screening day.
abstract: Compact ultrasound (US) was introduced in an austere setting with no other available imaging for an annual mass surgical screening day. Compact US examinations were performed on 25 patients from more than 7000 potential patients, as deemed possibly useful by the screening surgeons. Of the 20 patients with recorded data, compact US was helpful in 14 of 20 as a decision-making tool, obviating computed tomography for preoperative planning. Compact US was helpful in most cases, saving resources (computed tomography), technologist time, and radiation risk in this select population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire USA (R.D.H.); Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth University, Hanover, New Hampshire USA (R.D.H.); and MV Africa Mercy, Pointe Noire, Republic of Congo, West Africa (G.P.). rdh@hitchcock.org.
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire USA (R.D.H.); Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth University, Hanover, New Hampshire USA (R.D.H.); and MV Africa Mercy, Pointe Noire, Republic of Congo, West Africa (G.P.).
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Parker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012767:Ships / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: compact ultrasound; humanitarian medicine; radiology; surgical screening; ultrasound education; volunteerism