The use of portable ultrasound (US) devices has increased in recent years and the market has been flourishing. Portable US devices can be subdivided into three groups: laptop-associated devices, hand-carried US, and handheld US devices. Almost all companies we investigated offer at least one portable US device. Portable US can also be associated with the use of different US techniques such as colour Doppler US and pulse wave (PW)-Doppler. Laptop systems will also be available with contrast-enhanced US and high-end cardiac functionality. Portable US devices are effective in the hands of experienced examiners. Imaging quality is predictably inferior to so-called high-end devices. The present paper is focused on portable US devices and clinical applications describing their possible use in different organs and clinical settings, keeping in mind that patient safety must never be compromised. Hence, portable devices must undergo the same decontamination assessment and protocols as the standard equipment, especially smartphones and tablets.
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The use of portable ultrasound devices (PUD) has increased in recent years and the market has been flourishing. Formerly only offered in specialised departments as bulky and expensive machines, ultrasound has recently moved to the bedside and become more affordable. At present, PUDs are mainly used by non-radiologist units such as in internal medicine and intensive care units or in pre-hospital settings [1, 2] and allow for complementing clinical examination and providing immediate visual correlates of clinical findings. The idea of an “ultrasound stethoscope”, in addition to taking a history from and clinical examination of patients, is a reality nowadays. Both tools are operator dependent; practice and experience are critical for developing an adequate skill level. In an American study of cardiology practice, first-year medical students achieved the correct diagnosis in 75% of cases by using ultrasound, compared to cardiologists who, by means of clinical examination, arrived at the correct diagnosis in only 49% of the cases [3].
Portable ultrasound devices can be subdivided into three groups: laptop-associated devices, hand-carried (HCU), and handheld (HHUSD) systems. Almost all companies we investigated offer at least one portable ultrasound device.
The big advantages of PUD lie in time saving (booting time, transfer, bedside positioning), e.g., at the bedside or in prehospital situations. On the other hand, drawbacks are the limited battery runtime, the narrowed field of vision, and poor penetration. So far, miniaturised devices may not guarantee adequate image quality [4]. Ongoing research needs to be done to safeguard sufficient resolution in mobile ultrasound devices.
Should portable devices be used, in particular in conjunction with smartphones and tablets, an adequate decontamination assessment is mandatory before first use and strict hygiene protocols must be in place at all times. Patient safety must not be compromised. Image storage should be considered before introducing mobile devices in daily clinical practice. Images and formal reports of all ultrasound studies must be available in the patient records for further reference [5, 6].