Ultrasound
Ultrasound is a modern medical diagnostic procedure that uses sound waves to make images. These images then detect disease and changes inside the human body. There is no pain in an ultrasound examination. You will feel the transducer being moved back and forth over the skin surface. Sound waves are transmitted through the transducer, touching organs deep within your body. The waves bounce back and are received by the transducer. An image is then displayed on a TV monitor. Several images are taken and interpreted by a radiologist.
Preparing for the exam:
Abdominal organs – Liver, Renal, Gallbladder, Pancreas, Spleen, Aorta, Common Bile Duct:
- Nothing to eat or drink after midnight or 8 hours prior if exam is in the afternoon.
- No smoking or gum chewing after midnight or 8 hours prior if exam is in the afternoon.
Pelvic organs – Uterus, Ovaries, Bladder, Sonohysterogram:
- Drink 32 oz of water. Be done drinking 1 hour prior to exam time.
- For Sonohysterogram patients, take 800mg of Ibuprofen or Motrin 1 hour prior to exam time.
OB – First & Second trimester:
- Drink 32 oz of water. Be done drinking 1 hour prior to exam time.
- Third trimester patients have no prep
Thyroid, Knee, Breast, Scrotum, Carotid or Venous:
- no prep
Biopsies, Aspirations, Thoracentesis, Paracentesis, Thyroid Fine Needle Biopsy:
- If you are on blood thinners like Heparin, Coumadin, Warfarin, Jantoven with ordering doctor’s approval they need to be discontinued for 48 hours prior to exam.
- If you are on blood thinners like Asprin, Plavix, Motrin, Ibuprofen or any NSAID they need to be discontinued for 5 days prior to exam.
- Labs will need to be drawn before exams can be done to check for clotting factor.
After the exam:
After the exam is completed, you will be able to go home and return to normal activities. The scan will be read by a radiologist. Test results will be mailed to you by your provider if they are normal. The ordering provider does not telephone you with normal test results. Abnormal test results will be reported to you by telephone by the ordering provider or their assistant, along with follow up instructions.