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Ultrasound: patient preparedness
Ultrasound imaging, also called ultrasound scanning or sonography, involves the use of a
small transducer (probe) and ultrasound gel to expose the body to high-frequency sound
waves. Ultrasound is safe and painless, and produces pictures of the inside of the body using
sound waves. Ultrasound examinations do not use ionizing radiation (as used in x-rays).
Because ultrasound images are captured in real-time, they can show the structure and
movement of the body's internal organs, as well as blood flowing through blood vessels.
Ultrasound imaging is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat
medical conditions.
What are some common uses of the procedure?
Ultrasound examinations can help to diagnose a variety of conditions and to assess organ
damage following illness.
Ultrasound is used to help physicians evaluate symptoms such as:
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pain
swelling
infection
hematuria (blood in urine)
Ultrasound is a useful way of examining many of the body's internal organs, including but
not limited to the:
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heart and blood vessels, including the abdominal aorta and its major branches
liver
gallbladder
spleen
pancreas
kidneys
bladder
uterus, ovaries, and unborn child (fetus) in pregnant patients
eyes
thyroid and parathyroid glands
scrotum (testicles)
brain in infants
hips in infants
How should I prepare?
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You should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing for your ultrasound exam. You
may need to remove all clothing and jewelry in the area to be examined.
You may be asked to wear a gown during the procedure.
Other preparation depends on the type of examination you will have. For some scans
your doctor may instruct you not to eat or drink for as many as 12 hours before your
appointment. For others you may be asked to drink up to six glasses of water two
hours prior to your exam and avoid urinating so that your bladder is full when the
scan begins.
For most ultrasound exams, the patient is positioned lying face-up on the examination
table that can be tilted or moved.
A clear water-based gel is applied to the area of the body being studied to help the
transducer make secure contact with the body and eliminate air pockets between the
transducer and the skin that can block the sound waves from passing into your body.
The sonographer then presses the transducer firmly against the skin in various
locations, sweeping over the area of interest or angling the sound beam from a farther
location to see an area of concern better.
Doppler sonography is performed using the same transducer.
I'm having an abdominal ultrasound
This scan examines the abdominal cavity (the area below the diaphragm and above the hips
bones) and checks for any abnormalities.
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What do I need to do to prepare? You should cease eating and drinking four to six
hours before your scan, but oral medications can be taken with a small amount of
water; If you are diabetic, you may have one piece of dry toast and one glass of juice
before a morning exam – if your scan is in the afternoon then you may have a light,
low- or no-fat diet
Duration of exam: Approximately 30 minutes
Post-procedural care: None – you may resume normal activity
I'm having an abdomen and pelvic (or kidney and
bladder) ultrasound: Full Bladder
This scan examines the abdominal and pelvic cavities and checks for any abnormalities.
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What do I need to do to prepare? You should cease eating four to six hours before
your scan and stop voiding and drinking two hours before the exam; Oral medications
can be taken with a small amount of water; If you are diabetic, you may have one
piece of dry toast and one glass of juice before a morning exam – if your scan is in the
afternoon then you may have a light, low- or no-fat diet
Duration of exam: Approximately 30 minutes
Post-procedural care: None – you may resume normal activity
I'm having a general (small parts) ultrasound
This procedure may be used to scan the arm, shoulder, wrist, hand, leg, knee, foot, chest,
thyroid (non biopsy), testes (scrotal) or penis.
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What do I need to do to prepare? There are no dietary restrictions or special
requirements for this scan
Duration of exam: Approximately 30 minutes
Post-procedural care: None – you may resume normal activity
I'm having a (male) pelvis ultrasound: Full Bladder
This scan demonstrates abnormalities of the male pelvic cavity (the region below the hip and
above the symphysis pubis).
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What do I need to do to prepare? You should cease drinking and voiding for two
hours before your scan, but oral medications can be taken with a small amount of
water
Duration of exam: Approximately 30 minutes
Post-procedural care: None – you may resume normal activity
I'm having an obstetrical, first trimester ultrasound: Full
Bladder
This scan assesses gestational age, fetal number and viability up to 13 weeks of gestation.
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What do I need to do to prepare? While there are no dietary restrictions, please
cease voiding for one hour before your scan
Duration of exam: Approximately 30 minutes
Post-procedural care: None – you may resume normal activity
I'm having an obstetrical second trimester anatomical
survey
This ultrasound exam evaluates the gravid uterus between 13 and 27 weeks gestation by
assessing fetal morphology, placenta amniotic fluid volume and estimating gestational age.
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What do I need to do to prepare? While there are no dietary restrictions, please
cease voiding for one hour before your scan
Duration of exam: Approximately one hour
Post-procedural care: None – you may resume normal activity
I'm having a (non-pregnant) pelvic ultrasound: Full
Bladder
This scan examines the structures and organs in both the male and female pelvic cavities.
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What do I need to do to prepare? Cease drinking and voiding for two hours before
your scan; If you are post-menopausal and do not have periods, your exam can be
done at any time. If you are pre-menopausal (having periods) or are post-menopausal
on sequential hormone replacement (you have regular period-like bleeding), your
exam should be done between day 6 and day 10 of your menstrual cycle
Duration of exam: Approximately 30 minutes
Post-procedural care: None – you may resume normal activity
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Duration of exam: Approximately 30 minutes
I'm having a transrectal prostate or rectal wall ultrasound
(without biopsy) Full Bladder
This scan detects disorders in the male prostate gland and surrounding tissue; it is also used to
further examine tumours detected in the rectal walls.
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What do I need to do to prepare? None
Duration of exam: Approximately 30 minutes
Post-procedural care: None – you may resume normal activity