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Madison Radiological Group
 What
is ultrasound?
Ultrasound imaging, also called ultrasound scanning or sonography,
involves exposing part of the body to high-frequency sound waves
to produce pictures of the inside of the body. Ultrasound exams
do not use ionizing radiation (x-ray). 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 usually a painless medical test that helps
physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions.
Conventional ultrasound displays the images in thin, flat sections
of the body. Advancements in ultrasound technology include three-dimensional
(3-D) ultrasound that formats the sound wave data into 3-D images.
Four-dimensional (4-D) ultrasound is 3-D ultrasound in motion.
A Doppler ultrasound study may be part of an ultrasound examination.
Doppler ultrasound is a special ultrasound technique
that evaluates blood as it flows through a blood vessel, including
the body's major arteries and veins in the abdomen, arms, legs and
neck.
For more information on ultrasound please visit radiologyinfo.org.
Are there any special instructions for me to follow before
the study?
Abdomen or gallbladder ultrasound:
Do not eat or drink after
midnight (NPO), including no smoking or gum chewing. You may
brush your teeth.
Pelvic Ultrasound: Do not go to the bathroom 2 hours
before the exam. During the first hour before the exam, you
need to drink one 8 ounce glass of clear liquid every 15 minutes.
It can be any clear liquid (Kool-aid, coffee, coke, etc. Examples
of nonclear liquids are milk or juice.) Stop drinking 1 hour
before exam.
For example: If appointment time is 2:00 PM, do not go to the
bathroom after 12:00 noon. Starting at 12 noon until 1:00 PM,
drink one glass of water every 15 minutes. Stop drinking the
water at 1:00 PM. Patient may come in early to complete paperwork,
15 minutes is usually enough time to complete the paperwork.
Abdomen and pelvic ultrasound: Do not eat after midnight.
NO FOOD. Drink one 8 ounce glass of water every 15 minutes
beginning 2 hours before appointment time. This will be a total
of four 8 ounce glasses (32 ounces). Stop drinking one hour
before your appointment time.
Renal ultrasound: You may eat or drink with no restrictions.
Do not go to the bathroom one hour before the examination. You
do not need to force fluids, just have a normally full bladder
until the examination is completed.
All other types of ultrasounds: There are no preparations
for other ultrasound examinations except for biopsies.
Do I need to bring anything with me?
You need to bring your insurance card and driver's license.
You will not need a driver. You will not receive any medication.
What should I wear?
You will be asked to remove most of your clothing and instructed
to put on a gown. Sonograms require a gel be applied to your
skin. This is so our transducer will glide across your skin
and to insure there is contact between your skin and the transducer.
What happens when I arrive to your facility?
We are located on the first floor of the Baptist Medical Complex
in Madison. Entering in the front
of the building, we are located straight back and on your right.
Once you are in the waiting room, check in with the receptionist
at the front desk. The receptionist may have information for
you to fill out once you arrive (these forms are also available
online. If you wish to fill them out ahead of time,
click
here).
Once all your information has been obtained and processed, your
technologist is notified of your arrival.
What can I expect during the study?
You will lie on an examination table. A warm gel will be applied
to your skin, then a small instrument called a transducer will
be moved across your skin. The transducer sends sound waves
into your body. These high frequency sound waves are reflected
back to the transducer. This information is processed by the
ultrasound machine in real time producing sonographic images
of the inside of your body. You cannot hear the sounds and the
study is generally painless.
If you are female and are having a pelvic ultrasound, an endovaginal
scan may be performed. This may be a little uncomfortable but
should not be painful.
What can I do to make sure my exam is optimal?
The most important thing is for you to follow the instructions
for the preparation before the sonogram. During the study, you
may be asked to take in a deep breath which helps move your
internal organs away from bone and gas (as is in your stomach
and colon). These structures can limit sonographic visualization.
How long will it take to do the study?
Most examinations take 15 to 30 minutes.
What happens to me after the study is over?
If you are undressed for the exam, you are taken back to the
dressing room to put your clothes back on. Once the radiologist
reviews your study and it is determined that no additional images
or studies are needed, you will check out at the front desk.
Depending on the order from your doctor, you will either stay
while the report is given to your doctor or you will be free
to leave and your doctor will discuss the study and results
with you at a later time. |
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