Puncture procedures utilizing transvaginal ultrasonic guidance

Abstract

The introduction of transvaginal sonography has enabled the use of this scanning method for guided puncture procedures. A total of 102 puncture procedures are described: 63 fetal reductions, eight punctures of ectopic pregnancies, 19 drainages of pelvic contents, seven punctures of ovarian cysts, four diagnostic culdocenteses and one injection of a cervical pregnancy. Every procedure is discussed in detail. There was only one procedure-related complication. The advantages of the ultrasound-guided vaginal puncture procedure are its performance under real-time imaging, a low complication rate, a better pregnancy outcome when considering the reduction of multifetal gestations, and, most importantly, the fact that abdominal surgery can be avoided in several cases.