Ultrasound-guided procedures

It is in the field of interventional pulmonology and as an adjunct to pleural procedures that TUS has gained its greatest foothold over the past decade, and where the evidence base for its continued use is undoubtedly strongest. There are many advantages to using TUS as a guide for invasive procedures, including a reduction in the risk of iatrogenic complications, increased diagnostic yield, patient and clinician satisfaction, cost savings and the avoidance of ionising radiation. This chapter will provide the reader with an overview of the published data underpinning current established practice in this field, alongside expert opinion from across the world on less commonly used techniques and how future research may potentially have an impact on clinical care and the way we work in the longer term.