Application of a novel kind of endoscopic sterile ultrasonic couplant using in miniprobe endoscopic ultrasonography

To investigate the efficacy of a novel endoscopic sterile ultrasonic couplant using miniprobe endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS). Twelve pigs were randomly assigned to experimental or control groups based on different couplants, with six pigs in each group. The experimental group underwent miniprobe endoscopic ultrasound examination using a sterile ultrasound couplant, whereas the control group underwent examination using purified water. Seven positions were examined: proximal esophagus, distal esophagus, gastric fundus, gastric angle, duodenal bulb, proximal colon, and distal colon. The examination time and imaging qualities of the two groups were compared. The ultrasonic couplant group was superior to the purified water group in terms of examination time, injection volume, image clarity, adjustment frequency, one-time success rate, and number of effective images. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p ​< ​0.05). Using a sterile endoscopic ultrasound couplant during miniprobe EUS can shorten the examination time, reduce the medium injection volume, improve the one-time success rate and image clarity, and is worthy of clinical promotion and application.