Ultrasound guidance in reproductive surgery.

Abstract

Ultrasound plays a key role in diagnosis and guidance in reproductive medicine and surgery. In the field of reproductive surgery, some of the interventions, especially intrauterine procedures, are regularly conducted without imaging guidance but instead performed based on clinical skills and experience alone. Operative real-time US provides concurrent visualisation of the structures, contents and planes and operating instruments and, therefore, has the potential to improve efficacy and safety of the operative interventions. Ultrasound should be used in our operating theatres more often to guide various intrauterine procedures to reduce the intra-operative risks and complications including uterine perforations and visceral injury. The use of ultrasound necessitates an additional assistant experienced in ultrasound in the theatre, but regular use of ultrasound improves the training opportunities of the trainees and clinicians.