Ultrasound

How To Prepare for an Ultrasound

• Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing.
• Depending on the type of ultrasound exam you have, you will be asked:
  • Not to eat or drink for up to 12 hours before your appointment, or
  • Drink up to six glasses of water two hours before your exam and avoid urinating. This will ensure a full bladder when the exam begins.

How Ultrasounds Are Used

• Viewing an unborn fetus
• Examining internal organs, including the liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, bladder, uterus, and ovaries.
• Show movement of internal tissues and organs (i.e., enable radiologists to see blood flow).
• Used complementary with other procedures such as needle biopsies
• Evaluate superficial structures, such as the thyroid gland and scrotum

What To Expect During Your Ultrasound

The examination usually takes less than 30 minutes. After being positioned on the exam table, a clear gel is applied in the area being examined. This helps the transducer make contact with the skin. The technologist firmly presses the transducer against the skin and moves it back and forth to image the area of interest. The technologist is able to review the ultrasound images in real time.

Most ultrasound exams are painless. Gel is applied to your skin and there may be varying degrees of discomfort during the exam due to probe pressure.