INDICATIONS:

Needle Visualization - A Critical MicroSkill

Following a needle with direct ultrasound visualization can seem deceptively easy at first - it's right there on the screen right?!  However, accurately following the tip of a needle traversing near vitally important neurovascular structures in 3 dimensions on a 2D screen requires a firm understanding of the inner workings of ones ultrasound machine, the physics of ultrasound, and the characteristics of the needle you are using.  Though an understanding of these concepts and deliberate practice you can master a microskill critical to the performance of a number of ultrasound-guided procedures.

Understanding and Optimizing Your Ultrasound Machine