Laparoscopic ultrasound.

Laparoscopic ultrasonography is a relative latecomer to the area of surgical sonography whose arrival can be attributed to the need for development of specialized transducers that could fit through conventional laparoscopic trocars. The quality, reliability, and ease of use of such units has evolved rapidly, so that laparoscopic ultrasonography may now be performed on a routine basis. Laparoscopic ultrasonography allows the surgeon to look into the tissues being operated upon, thereby compensating for the inability to physically palpate such tissues. Thus, it has not only helped to mimic open surgery, but has also refined the current techniques of laparoscopic operations. With the increasing availability of equipment, as well as the training of surgeons in this modality, laparoscopic ultrasound is quickly becoming an essential tool for the surgeon aiming to take laparoscopic surgery to new frontiers.