Hi All, I got a technical question for everyone today. Do you shave all your patients for ultrasounds?
Hi All, I got a technical question for everyone today. Do you shave all your patients for ultrasounds?
I have learnt ultrasound with lots of vets that don’t shave, and actually over the years I’ve become used to not shaving at all, unless there is a dog with double coat or sometimes very ” hairy” cats too. I believe that not shaving can mostly be detrimental for the quality of the pictures more than for the diagnostic itself.
Just recently I received a critic from a colleague who said that the exam wasn’t ” very accurate” since dog hasn’t been shaved.
I found this very offensive and inappropriate, and I compare it with scanning positions, for example, where everybody adopts their own method according to preferences.
I would appreciate your vision on this matter.
Cheers,
Silvana
Comments
Hello Silvana, I don’t think
Hello Silvana, I don’t think its fair to judge a sonographer on whether he/she shaves or not. I know many talented clinical sonographers that don’t shave all the time. I shave about 50% of the time and a small amount a that and readily get a full and complete image set every time. What counts is the image set and the interpretation. With alcohol and gel on top >50% of dogs and cats don’t have to be shaved unless its a husky or similar especially in the caudal abdomen. Shaving in general helps but there are surely ways around it in most breeds and if you provided a solid image set and interpretation then what’s the deal?
Being in the business of mobile ultrasound for a very long time now I suspect underlying issues and motives from the ‘rock thrower” assuming the image set was solid. & if the image set wasn’t solid by chance then the focus should be there, not on the shaving which has little bearing on the case. This being said it depends also on the source of information which I have found to be unreliable if not a face to face conversation. This is a first for me and I thought I heard it all. Guess not:)
Hello Silvana, I don’t think
Hello Silvana, I don’t think its fair to judge a sonographer on whether he/she shaves or not. I know many talented clinical sonographers that don’t shave all the time. I shave about 50% of the time and a small amount a that and readily get a full and complete image set every time. What counts is the image set and the interpretation. With alcohol and gel on top >50% of dogs and cats don’t have to be shaved unless its a husky or similar especially in the caudal abdomen. Shaving in general helps but there are surely ways around it in most breeds and if you provided a solid image set and interpretation then what’s the deal?
Being in the business of mobile ultrasound for a very long time now I suspect underlying issues and motives from the ‘rock thrower” assuming the image set was solid. & if the image set wasn’t solid by chance then the focus should be there, not on the shaving which has little bearing on the case. This being said it depends also on the source of information which I have found to be unreliable if not a face to face conversation. This is a first for me and I thought I heard it all. Guess not:)
I agree with Eric that the
I agree with Eric that the image quality is what really counts at the end of the day and if one can get a good image without shaving then so be it. Generally I tend to clip the hair as I am not sure at the start of the scan if a FNA will be required, so clipping before saves me time.
I agree with Eric that the
I agree with Eric that the image quality is what really counts at the end of the day and if one can get a good image without shaving then so be it. Generally I tend to clip the hair as I am not sure at the start of the scan if a FNA will be required, so clipping before saves me time.
Image quality is what we all
Image quality is what we all live by and should be the only standard. That being said I think it is sometimes difficult to get all the gel worked in quickly through the fur and to continue scanning. I do shave about half the patients. Because the images are remotely interpreted, I feel that getting the diagnosis by providing the best images means one does whatever it takes, including shaving.
Image quality is what we all
Image quality is what we all live by and should be the only standard. That being said I think it is sometimes difficult to get all the gel worked in quickly through the fur and to continue scanning. I do shave about half the patients. Because the images are remotely interpreted, I feel that getting the diagnosis by providing the best images means one does whatever it takes, including shaving.
I think it depends also on
I think it depends also on the type of probe used. For cardiac exam (PA probes) I almost never shave (with the exception of Newfoundland Dogs ๐ ). Performing an abdominal scan using a microconvex proble is also possible without shaving in most of the patients. But if I use a linear probe for an abdominal ultrasound (cats, small dogs, suferficial structures…) or for orthopedic scans (meniscus, tendons, shoulder etc), I almost always shave to get a good and consistant contact.
And I agree with Remo: In cases where I could find an indication for a FNAB, I shave prior to the scan to avoid shaving glibbery hair ๐
I think it depends also on
I think it depends also on the type of probe used. For cardiac exam (PA probes) I almost never shave (with the exception of Newfoundland Dogs ๐ ). Performing an abdominal scan using a microconvex proble is also possible without shaving in most of the patients. But if I use a linear probe for an abdominal ultrasound (cats, small dogs, suferficial structures…) or for orthopedic scans (meniscus, tendons, shoulder etc), I almost always shave to get a good and consistant contact.
And I agree with Remo: In cases where I could find an indication for a FNAB, I shave prior to the scan to avoid shaving glibbery hair ๐
Hi Silvana, I have seen
Hi Silvana, I have seen different opinions on this, from all clipped to only a small area clipped to no clipped (specially on dogs for show) hehehehehe. Its all about what you feel comfortable with, and if at the end the images are good quality for your interpretation that is what counts! Specially on a Cushing’s dog that they come already clipped for you hehehehehe. ๐
Hi Silvana, I have seen
Hi Silvana, I have seen different opinions on this, from all clipped to only a small area clipped to no clipped (specially on dogs for show) hehehehehe. Its all about what you feel comfortable with, and if at the end the images are good quality for your interpretation that is what counts! Specially on a Cushing’s dog that they come already clipped for you hehehehehe. ๐