After you are checked in and have filled out any paperwork, you will be invited into a private exam room where the test will take place. Throughout the Test. For an abdominal ultrasound, you will be asked to get onto an examination table and lie on your back.
Then, any clothing or your hospital gown will be moved aside so your abdomen is uncovered. The radiologist or sonographer will apply some gel to the part of the abdomen that needs to be imaged.
The gel might feel chilly on your skin but many clinics and hospitals use warmers to keep the gel at a comfortable temperature. Next, a device called a transducer will be placed against the surface of your belly and moved around.
The transducer works with a computer to capture images. However, if you have tenderness it may be uncomfortable when the transducer is moved over that part of your belly. Let the radiologist or sonographer know before the ultrasound begins if you have any pain or issues with the skin of your abdomen.
After the test, you'll be given a towel to wipe the gel off your belly. Then, you'll be shown to a private area to get dressed and use the bathroom if you need to. Ultrasounds don't have any special aftercare instructions.
There are no side effects and you should be fine to return to your normal daily activities or go back to work. If you'd like a copy of the test results, ask the office before you leave or give them a call when you get home. You may need to sign a release and possibly pay a fee , but most hospitals, clinics, and offices can supply a CD or thumb drive with the images and a summary report from the radiologist once they are complete.
Depending on the facility and the reason for the test, you may be asked to get dressed and wait for a healthcare provider to go over the results with you and answer any questions you have.
In most cases, the results will be reviewed first by the radiologist, then sent to the healthcare provider who ordered the test. After your healthcare provider reviews the report, the office will usually contact you within a few days to discuss the results. They may also send you a letter in the mail or a message via a patient portal. If you haven't heard from your healthcare provider within a week, give their office a call.
If there are any results from the abdominal ultrasound that need follow-up, the healthcare provider who ordered the test will provide recommendations. Follow-up could involve having another test or examination to understand more about what was discovered during the ultrasound.
You may also be referred to a specialist or another healthcare provider for care, depending on which organs are involved. Your healthcare provider may recommend " watchful waiting. The healthcare provider who is explaining what the results mean should also answer your questions and offer a plan for the next steps if needed. Other Considerations. Your healthcare provider should discuss the results of the test in as much detail as needed for you to understand. If the images, interpretation, or results of the ultrasound are in question, getting a second opinion might be warranted.
You can ask for the results of the ultrasound to be sent to another healthcare provider or request a copy to take with you when you go to an appointment. An abdominal ultrasound is a non-invasive test that can be performed quickly and painlessly. It provides useful information about the state of the abdominal organs.
In most cases, the test itself takes less than a day—often less than an hour. An abdominal ultrasound usually requires only minimal preparation such as fasting the night before or having a full bladder when you arrive. You don't need to bring anything and it's best to leave jewelry and other valuables at home. Ultrasounds don't have side effects or special aftercare instructions.
However, what happens after the test when you discuss the results with your healthcare provider is important. You should feel confident that you understand what the results mean and what follow-up is needed. Gas pain? Get prescriptions or refills through a video chat, if the doctor feels the prescriptions are medically appropriate.
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Similar questions Canada. Neil Halin answered. Nothing: There is no such thing as a " barium abdominal ultrasound. Related questions A year-old female asked:. My abdominal ultrasound shows that my liver shows increased echogenicity; what does that mean?
Also shows my CBD. What is the definition or description of: ultrasound of abdomen shows bull's eye? Will an abdominal ultrasound show a fatty liver or early stages of cirrhosis? Ultrasound technology uses sound waves to create images of certain types of tissue.
During an ultrasound, the technologist applies a gel to the skin near the affected area. Then, they place a probe called a transducer directly on the skin. The transducer creates sound waves that pass through soft tissue and fluid and bounce back on denser tissues.
An ultrasound machine creates an image based on the bounced waves. While softer tissues appear as a darker gray, denser tissues show as a lighter gray. There is no radiation used and generally no discomfort from the application of the ultrasound transducer to the skin. There may be risks depending on your specific medical condition.
Be sure to discuss any concerns with your doctor prior to the procedure. Barium within the intestines from a recent barium procedure. Intestinal gas. Nothing to eat or drink from midnight until after the examination. For a P. Nothing to eat or drink after breakfast. An abdominal ultrasound may be done as an outpatient or as part of your stay in a hospital. Although each facility may have different protocols in place, generally an ultrasound procedure follows this process:.
You will be asked to remove any clothing, jewelry, or other objects that may interfere with the scan. You will lie on an examination table on your back or side, depending on the specific area of the abdomen to be examined.
Using a transducer, a device that sends out the ultrasound waves, the ultrasound wave will be sent through the patient's body. The sound will be reflected off structures inside the body, and the ultrasound machine will analyze the information from the sound waves.
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