Urologists have long relied on advances in technology to improve patient care. From the days of using uroscopy to today’s complex molecular biology, the field of urology is ever-changing. Recently, the use of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has become more widespread. Dr. Kevin Zorn, a world-renowned surgeon and scientist, says he has transformed his private prostate practice since he incorporated ultrasound to streamline patient care, improve efficiency, and enhance the patient experience.
To me, POCUS is just an extension of the physical exam; we use it to evaluate the soft tissue from the kidneys down to the phallus. It’s safe. There’s no radiation. It’s real-time, and we can interpret our own images and show our patients what we see. I think that creates trust and the quick interpretation and diagnoses allow faster delivery of care.”
Dr. Zorn shared his POCUS techniques in a 1-hour webinar that is now available on-demand. Tune in at your convenience to learn how wireless ultrasound can supplement the physical examination for a quick and thorough assessment of the lower urinary tract: POCUS in Urology: 5 Ways to Streamline Patient Care. In the meantime, scroll below for quick highlights from the webinar.
Webinar Highlights: POCUS in Urology
Here are the five benefits that Dr. Zorn highlighted during the webinar.
- Expedite diagnosis. Using POCUS in the office can expedite diagnosis. For example, if a patient presents with scrotal pain, ultrasound can be used to quickly assess for hydrocele, hernia, or testicular torsion, and treatment can be determined during the patient visit. This saves the patient time and money by avoiding a separate trip to the radiology department.
- Improve patient satisfaction and trust. Patients appreciate the ability to see real-time images and understand their diagnosis. Incorporating POCUS into your practice can help patients feel like they are receiving cutting-edge care.
- Optimize clinical workflow. Having the ability to perform ultrasound in the office saves time for both the patient and the provider. Results are available immediately, so treatment decisions can be made during the patient visit. This improves patient flow and allows the provider to see more patients.
- Aid in surgical planning. Ultrasound can be used to evaluate anatomical characteristics and aid in surgical planning. For example, when planning Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) surgery, ultrasound can be used to assess the size and shape of the prostate and the presence of a middle lobe.
- Provide immediate post-procedure evaluation. Ultrasound can be used to evaluate outcomes immediately after a procedure. For example, after BPH surgery, ultrasound can be used to assess the prostate for residual obstruction and evaluate the surgical results.
Transrectal Periprostatic Block
Watch this 3-minute video to see Dr. Zorn perform an ultrasound-guided periprostatic block for pain control in his patient who will undergo Rezum Water Vapor Therapy to treat BPH.
Q&As from the Webinar
Q: How do you go about sterilizing your endocavity probe?
A: Dr. Zorn indicates that for his outpatient clinic, he uses a solvent to clean the endocavity probe between patients. He states that the nurses use a special solvent, and he works with Clarius to determine the appropriate products depending on the part of the world, as there are different guidelines.
Q: Would there be any utility for real-time ultrasound during BPH treatments in the office, such as UroLift, Rezūm, etc., to ensure appropriate treatment and response?
A: Dr. Zorn states that he has seen patients who have had a UroLift and were not doing well, and upon examination, were found to have a prostate much larger than the indication for the procedure. He believes that ultrasound should be used as part of the guidelines and that it is easy to check. He states that he has not used it in real-time during the UroLift procedure to visualize needle placement but that it can be useful for planning. He also finds it helpful to use after the procedure to show patients the results.
Q: If you had to suggest to urologists who are just getting into this where to start, would you recommend jumping into the endocavity and prostate imaging or curvilinear renal bladder or transabdominal scanning?
A: Dr. Zorn recommends starting with the Clarius C3 HD3 curvilinear scanner, as it is the most versatile. It can be used for kidney, ureter, bladder, prostate, testicular, and penile imaging.
Q: How can you direct people to learn [how to interpret ultrasound] images?
A: Dr. Zorn says that it comes with experience, and when in doubt, you can always send the patient to the radiologist. He also states that credentialing is important and that he has certification from a hands-on urological course. He would like to see ultrasound training as part of residency. He emphasizes that it is important to learn how to acquire good images and that the Clarius has different settings to optimize the image for the tissue type.
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Deliver Fast and Effective Patient Care with Wireless Ultrasound for Urology
Clarius offers a complete wireless solution for genitourinary imaging with the C3 HD3 for transabdominal ultrasound, the EC7 HD3 for transrectal and transvaginal ultrasound, and the L15 HD3 for superficial imaging. This affordable system delivers the high-definition imaging and performance of traditional ultrasound systems in ultra-mobile scanners that pair instantly with iOS or Android devices. Evaluate the entire urinary tract for enhanced decision-making and get your patients on the right treatment path fast.
Book a private virtual demonstration with a Clarius expert today to discuss which scanner is right for your practice. If you’re already a Clarius user without membership, we would be happy to discuss the benefits of adding membership for a small annual fee, which includes access to Bladder AI, Cloud Storage, and much more.
