BIO-EFFECTS AND SAFETY
ULTRASOUND SAFETY
Diagnostic ultrasound is considered to be a safe and effective imaging tool. Experimental animal evidence of mechanical damage from ultrasound within gas containing organs (lung/intestine) has been shown. There has however been no proven deleterious effects in humans from the use of diagnostic ultrasound so far.
The usefulness of ultrasound is in the way it interacts with tissue to produce an image. As a result of this interaction, mechanical and thermal forces are produced which are exerted on the interrogated tissue. Thus there is potential mechanism for deleterious effect from the use of ultrasound in our practice. This especially applies to sensitive tissues, obstetric ultrasound, early pregnancy scanning, and the use of higher intensity imaging modes such as Doppler. When using ultrasound in our practice we should abide by the ALARA principle, As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) consistent with obtaining the required clinical information.
ALARA Principle
A fundamental approach to the safe use of diagnostic ultrasound is to use the lowest output power and the shortest scan time consistent with acquiring the required diagnostic information.
STATEMENT ON SAFE USE OF DIAGNOSTIC ULTRASOUND (WFUMB)
SAFE USE OF DIAGNOSTIC ULTRASOUND EQUIPMENT (BMUS)
STANDARDS OF PRACTICE SAFETY (ASUM)
In general the following considerations should be made when using ultrasound in your practice:
Ultrasound is an effective and proven diagnostic tool
It is not possible to conclude that diagnostic ultrasound is completely safe
Ultrasound therefore should be used in a justified manner where benefit may out weigh any risk
Ultrasound users should be aware of the potential bio-effects (thermal and mechanical), have knowledge of mechanical and thermal indices (MI/TI), and abide by safe practice guidelines provided by the governing bodies (ASUM/WFUMB)
Power output levels should be as low as possible and scanning time kept to a clinically reasonable minimum, consistent with ALARA principles.
In the balance of safety, concerns about patient exposure to ultrasound should not come at the expense of good quality scanning. Sub-optimal imaging puts the patient at risk of potential harm .
BIO-EFFECTS
BIO-EFFECTS AND SAFETY ( WFUMB)