Handheld ultrasound versus standard machines for placement of peripheral IV catheters: A randomized, non-inferiority study.

Introduction: Ultrasound guided IV catheter (USGIV) access occurs frequently in Emergency Departments (EDs). This task is often performed using large, expensive, cart-based ultrasound systems (CBUS) which are frequently needed for other ED ultrasound functions and can be cumbersome to use and store. Handheld ultrasounds (HHUs) may be able to meet this need, but it is unknown if they function interchangeably with CBUS for USGIV placement.

The Use of Handheld Ultrasound Devices in Emergency Medicine.

Purpose Of Review: Ultraportable handheld ultrasound (HHU) devices are being rapidly adopted by emergency medicine (EM) physicians. Though knowledge of the breadth of their utility and functionality is still limited compared to cart-based systems, these machines are becoming more common due to ease-of-use, extreme affordability, and improving technology.

Recent Findings: Images obtained with HHU are comparable to those obtained with traditional machines but create unique issues regarding billing and data management.