How should air bubbles be managed when flushing the transducer?

Managing air bubbles within the transducer is crucial to ensure accurate imaging and prevent artifacts in interventional radiology procedures. Ensuring that air bubbles escape through the stopcock before using the transducer is an effective method to maintain optimal function. Air bubbles can interfere with the transmission of ultrasound waves, which may lead to poor-quality images or inaccurate measurements. By allowing bubbles to escape, you ensure that the fluid path within the transducer is clear, facilitating a consistent and reliable performance during imaging.

Other methods, such as tapping the transducer or using a vacuum, may not provide a reliable way of removing air bubbles. Additionally, leaving air bubbles in the transducer can significantly compromise the imaging process and could result in misinterpretation of the results. Therefore, ensuring that air bubbles are removed through the stopcock is the best practice in preparation for using the transducer.