Prepare for an Ultrasound: A Guide to Sonography

      Sonography, another name for ultrasound imaging, is the process of producing images of the inside of the body by subjecting a portion of the body to high-frequency sound waves.

Tips for Patient Safety Before a Radiology Diagnostic Exam

-If you have any pharmaceutical side effects or allergies, kindly inform the healthcare professional.

-Kindly leave your valuables in your hospital room or at home.

-If you require translating services, do inform a healthcare professional so that may make the necessary arrangements.

-Medications: You can drink a little water along with your prescriptions.

Preparation for the exam

-The technician will confirm your identity and the required examination.

-The kind of ultrasound technique your doctor has prescribed will determine how you should prepare for this exam. 

-You will be instructed not to eat or drink anything after midnight the night before the exam if you are having a biopsy. You will get instructions from your doctor.

-Your healthcare professional may request that you avoid eating or drinking for a specific amount of time before some tests, including a gallbladder ultrasound.

-Others might need a full bladder, such as a pelvic ultrasound. You will be advised by your physician on how much water you should consume before the test. Wait till the exam is over to urinate.

-Young children could require more planning. If your doctor has given you any special instructions, make sure to follow them when you schedule an ultrasound for yourself or your kid.

During the exam

-Exam lengths vary, but often last between thirty and sixty minutes.

-The technician will arrange for you to sit on the test table and will give instructions.

-You will be able to ask questions of the technologists.

-The skin over the region that will be inspected is covered with a small quantity of water-soluble gel.

-Your body's gel is pressed up against a hand-held device. We're going to move this instrument throughout the region under investigation.

After the exam

-You can get back to your regular activities if you're heading home.

-After your exam, you can go back to your regular diet.

    Before an ultrasound examination, inform your doctor about fasting guidelines, dress appropriately, remove jewellery, and follow special instructions. Share any concerns with your healthcare professional for a successful procedure.

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References

Abdominal ultrasound (2019) Johns Hopkins Medicine. Available at: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/abdominal-ultrasound (Accessed: 29 March 2024).

Krans, B. (2019) Ultrasound: Purpose, procedure, and preparation, Healthline. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/ultrasound#preparation (Accessed: 29 March 2024).

Prepare for an ultrasound (sonography) (2021) UCSF Radiology. Available at: https://radiology.ucsf.edu/patient-care/prepare/ultrasound (Accessed: 09 March 2024).