Diagnostic ultrasonography has a limited number of uses for maternal and foetal health in low-resource settings, despite the fact that it is extremely important. Full-scale ultrasound technology is not practicable for use in community settings because of the high cost and large size of the equipment. Recent years have seen the introduction of portable, tiny ultrasound machines, making it possible for health practitioners in smaller clinics and community settings to do ultrasound exams. Apart from the diagnosis of pregnancy and foetal health issues, portable ultrasonography equipment, like full-sized ultrasound machines, may be used to detect a wide range of medical disorders as well. Because there has only been a small amount of published research on the use of portable ultrasonography in low-resource settings, it is impossible to assess the potential public health benefit at this time. Due to the fact that ultrasound can only detect health concerns, it is only beneficial if additional resources are available to treat the problems that it detects.
Extreme caution must be used while utilizing ultrasonography in community settings in order to avoid sex selection and female feticide from occurring.
The use of a portable ultrasound machine outside of certified health-care facilities is now restricted in a number of jurisdictions worldwide. Devices with locking mechanisms and system passwords help to prevent them from being abused or taken from their intended place. Many of the current portable devices only protect patient data, but they may still be used without requiring a login to the system since they are protected by a password. Furthermore, due to the small size of portable devices, locking mechanisms are unable to be integrated into them. When the equipment is not in use, clinics should take precautions to ensure that it is safe and secure for patients.
Although not always the case, some portable ultrasound equipment includes a transducer (probe) to deliver ultrasound images. Because they are designed for a variety of clinical purposes, each machine has a diverse range of transducers available for use with them. The user must have the appropriate transducer for the clinical application in question. If portable ultrasound equipment is subjected to repeated power outages, the device’s lifespan may be significantly reduced. Aside from that, employees must be taught on how to use ultrasonography in an appropriate and safe manner. A basic obstetric ultrasound examination requires two to three weeks of training for doctors or midwives before they can perform it.
Ultrasound is a common medical imaging method in many clinical settings due to the fact that it emits non ionizing radiation and is completely non-invasive. A small number of companies are now working on the development of portable ultrasound equipment, which will have important consequences for telemedicine and global healthcare. Because second-hand machines are now accessible for a fraction of the price of new machines, and because the quality of portable ultrasound images has improved considerably in recent years, the use of portable ultrasound equipment is increasing at an alarming rate. Acquiring an older portable ultrasound machine from a reputable medical equipment dealer rather than purchasing a new one might result in considerable savings.