title: Teleultrasound: historical perspective and clinical application.
abstract: The health care of patients in rural or isolated areas is challenged by the scarcity of local resources, limited patient access to doctors and hospitals, and the lack of specialized professionals. This has led to a new concept in telemedicine: teleultrasonography (or teleultrasound), which permits ultrasonographic diagnoses to be performed remotely. Telemedicine and teleultrasonography are effective in providing diagnostic imaging services to these populations and reduce health care costs by decreasing the number and duration of hospitalizations and reducing unnecessary surgical procedures. This is a narrative review to present the potential clinical applications of teleultrasonography in clinical practice. The results indicate that although barriers persist for implementing teleultrasonography in a more universal and routine way, advances in telecommunications, Internet bandwidth, and the high resolution currently available for portable ultrasonography suggest teleultrasonography applications will continue to expand. Teleultrasound appears to be a valuable addition to remote medical care for isolated populations with limited access to tertiary healthcare facilities and also a useful tool for education and training.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Department of Perinatal Medicine, Pregnancy Research Centre, Royal Women's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3207, Australia ; School of Medicine, University of São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil ; Monash Ultrasound for Women, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors: Adilson Cunha
authors: AC
authors: Ferreira
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Department of Perinatal Medicine, Pregnancy Research Centre, Royal Women's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3207, Australia.
authors: Edward
authors: E
authors: O'Mahony
authors: School of Medicine, University of São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors: Antonio Hélio
authors: AH
authors: Oliani
authors: Department of Obstetrics, Paulista School of Medicine-Federal University of São Paulo (EPM-UNIFESP), 05303-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors: Edward
authors: 0000-0002-6145-2532
authors: E
authors: Araujo Júnior
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Department of Perinatal Medicine, Pregnancy Research Centre, Royal Women's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3207, Australia ; Monash Ultrasound for Women, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors: Fabricio
authors: 0000-0003-0693-7032
authors: F
authors: da Silva Costa