What is Ultrasound?

What is an Ultrasound?
How do I prepare for my Ultrasound?
What to expect during my Ultrasound?
When will I get my results?

What is an Ultrasound?

Ultrasound is an imaging system which uses sound waves to look inside the human body without using x-rays. These images can help your physician diagnose your condition and formulate the appropriate treatment plan. Ultrasound, unlike x-ray examinations, can help determine the characteristics of certain tissues. For example, fluids and solids have different sound wave characteristics.  

Ultrasound is specifically used to evaluate:

• Heart
• Blood vessels
• Lumps in the breast
• Gallstones
• Inflammation, tumors, cysts and stones in the bladder, kidneys, liver, spleen, pancreas, and uterus/ovaries
• Injury to joint tissues such as tendons
• Fetal growth and development
• Infertility
• Biopsy needle guidance

How do I prepare for my ULTRASOUND?

Be aware: You may be asked to change into a patient gown.
Please notify your physician for further instructions if:

You are pregnant, or may be pregnant
The Ultrasound Technologist will ask you several questions related to your health, and symptoms leading up to the exam.
They will explain the procedure to you.

Preparation instructions for specific Ultrasound exams:

If NPO is indicated: No food or drink 6-8 hours prior to exam. Take regular medications as prescribed. If food is required with the medication we suggest a slice of dry toast and a glass of unsweetened orange juice or water.

ABDOMEN (AORTA, BILE DUCT, GALLBLADDER, LIVER, PANCREAS, KIDNEYS & SPLEEN)

The day before your exam:
Follow a low fat diet and avoid gas-producing foods (See guidelines below)
Drink 4 glasses of water throughout the day, however not all at once.
The evening before your exam: Do not eat, drink, chew gum or smoke after 10PM.

You will be fasting until your exam is complete.

PELVIS

You should be finished drinking 16 ounces of water 1 hour before your appointment time.
Do not empty your bladder after drinking the water; a bull bladder is important.
If you become very uncomfortable please let the receptionist know.

FOR WOMEN:  

Schedule your appointment within 6 days following the end of your menstrual cycle. Fasting is not necessary. Internal vaginal scans are usually required to complete a pelvic ultrasound procedure.

KIDNEY (RENAL)

Drink 12 ounces of water 1 hour before the appointment.
Do not empty your bladder after drinking the water.  

OBSTETRICAL

PATIENTS UP TO 24 WEEKS OF PREGANACY:
Finish drinking 16 ounces of water one hour before our appointment time
Do not empty your bladder after drinking the water. A full bladder is important

PATIENTS IN 24-40 WEEKS OF PREGANACY:
Finish drinking 8 ounces of water one hour before our appointment time.
Do not empty your bladder after drinking the water. A full bladder is important
If you become very uncomfortable please let the receptionist know.  

NO PREPARATION FOR THE FOLLOWING EXAMS:

Appendix; if an abdomen is also being done, follow the abdomen instructions
Breast
Child’s head, Child’s hips, hernia, scrotal, shoulders, thyroid 

**Guidelines for a low-fat diet:

Foods Allowed:   Fruit juice (except apple), coffee, tea, water, lean beef, fish, lamb, poultry, rice pasta, fat free broth based soups, dry cereals (except bran products) most vegetables, most fruits, Jell-O, sherbet.   Food should be prepared without added fat and should not be fried.

Foods to Avoid:   Whole milk, apple juice, beer, carbonated beverages, all fried foods, highly spicy foods, dried beans, potatoes, vegetables in the cabbage family, whole grain products, prunes, chocolate

What should I expect during an ULTRASOUND?

For the majority of exams, you will be asked to lie on a padded table on your back;
the technologist will help get you in the correct position
The technologist will use a water-soluble gel to cover the area of interest
A wand, called a transducer, will be moved over the gel to send and receive the sound
waves thus creating the images on a monitor
For the majority of exams, the transducer is used on the outside of the body.
However, for some ultrasound exams of the uterus, the transducer will be inserted into the vagina. 

When will I get my results?            

The Registered Ultrasound Technologist performing your scans will review your exam before you leave to make sure enough information has been obtained to provide a diagnostic study; the technologist will not interpret the exam. One of our board-certified radiologists will later interpret the images and prepare a written report for your physician. Our goal is for all reports to be available within 24 hours. If your appointment with your physician is sooner than 24 hours, let us know and our reports can be faxed or called in to your physician. 

PLEASE ALLOW 45-60 MINUTES FOR YOUR ULTRASOUND EXAM