Ultrasound removes need for radiation exposure during surgery
Doctors from Shanghai No.10 People's Hospital use ultrasound to guide minimally invasive surgery instead of CT technology, avoiding radiation exposure.
Shanghai No.10 People’s Hospital became the first in the city to introduce ultrasound in the guidance of spinal surgery instead of computerized tomography, or CT, to avoid radiation exposure for both patients and medical staff.
Traditionally, CT technology was used to guide in puncture and other minimally invasive procedures, Dr He Shisheng, director of the hospital's spine surgery department said.
“Both patients and doctors face large doses of radiation with CT — to avoid excessive radiation, doctors have to wear extremely heavy protective gear,” the doctor added. “Some patients are unable to receive surgery at all due to radiation exposure under their physical condition.”
Based on imported medical equipment, He’s team invented positioning technology to accurately locate a suitable puncture position under the guidance of ultrasound. The patented technology can further increase the safety of surgery and help doctors improve their efficiency.
So far, the first batch of some 10 patients has received the new method during their spinal surgery and all had good results, doctors told a medical forum.
