# Ultrasound for vascular access in newborn pigs with Color Doppler

- Link: https://sifsof.com/clinical-apps/ultrasound-for-vascular-access-in-newborn-pigs-with-color-doppler/
- Published: 2021-01-24T17:11:07+00:00
- Author: Developer

Doppler ultrasonography is used to quantify the direction and velocity of a moving
subject. In [veterinary medicine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterinary_medicine),
this is most commonly applied to blood flow.

When performing ultrasound tests, the ultrasound wave reflected from the stationary
object returns to the transducer at the same frequency at which it was transmitted.

 However, if an ultrasound wave is reflected from a moving target, the frequency
of the returning echo will be altered by the Doppler effect. This frequency change
is known as Doppler Shift and can be detected by an ultrasound machine and displayed
as color pixels or in a graphical format.

Doppler ultrasound is most commonly used in echocardiographic examinations. By mapping
the velocity and direction of blood flow, areas of abnormal or turbulent blood flow
associated with cardiac changes can be visualized.

 Besides, the quantification of blood velocity in the heart chambers provides information
on changes in blood pressure through the modified Bernoulli equation.

## **Which Ultrasound Scanner is the best for Vascular access in newborn pigs?**

Using a high-frequency ultrasound scanner with a needle guide is more suitable for
vascular access in newborn animals and specifically pigs. For this reason, SIFSOF‘
s medical research and development team usually recommend the Color Doppler Mini
Linear WiFi Ultrasound Scanner [SIFULTRAS-3.51](https://sifsof.com/product/mini-linear-wifi-ultrasound-scanner-sifultras-3-51-with-needle-guide/)
to our veterinary clients.

The Color Linear Handheld WiFi Ultrasound Scanner 10-12-14 MHz SIFULTRAS-3.51 provides
guided injections. It allows the practitioner to visualize the needle in real-time
as it enters the body and traverses to the desired location.

Despite good intentions, even in the most experienced hands, blind (injections without
imaging) injections are not 100% accurate and in some joints, the accuracy is as
low as 30 per cent-40 percent.

With ultrasound guidance, the accuracy of almost every joint injection exceeds 90%
and is approaching 100% in many cases.

Indeed, real-time US puncture guidance allows the vet to adjust the vessel’s patency
as well as the position of the needle, wire, and catheter in the vessel.

Also, ultrasound can be used to determine the change in the patient’s position and
thus the cross-section of the patient’s lumen, depending on the change in the patient’s
position.

Moreover, using a Color Doppler ultrasound scanner with a needle guide improves 
needle placement and injection accuracy, Provides control of the needle insertion
path, needle depth, or angle without the risk of damaging adjacent structures, and
reduces the time of intravascular access, minimizes the number of unsuccessful catheterization
tempts, and reduces the risk of post-puncture complications.

To sum up, Ultrasound guidance is a useful tool to help identify venous and arterial
vessels and may contribute to a quick and reproducible [venipuncture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venipuncture)
and vascular access in piglets.

References: [Ultrasound Doppler explained for vets](https://www.imv-imaging.co.uk/veterinary-learning/small-animal-learning/general-imaging-techniques/ultrasound-doppler-explained-for-vets/),

 * ![Color Doppler Mini Linear WiFi Ultrasound Scanner SIFULTRAS-3.51 main](https://
   sifsof.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/SIFULTRAS-3.51-wireless-mini-linear-color-
   doppler-ultrasound-scanner-300x300.jpg)
 * Color Doppler Mini Linear WiFi Ultrasound Scanner SIFULTRAS-3.51