Delivering top-tier cardiovascular ultrasound services directly to your practice
-
Delivering top-tier cardiovascular ultrasound services directly to your practice -
Abdominal Ultrasound
An abdominal ultrasound is a diagnostic imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to create high-quality digital images of the organs and other structures like blood vessels and tissues in the abdominal cavity. The team at Cardiovascular Speciality Imaging in Pensacola, FL, uses abdominal ultrasound to detect, diagnose, and treat any underlying condition in organs like the aorta, gallbladder, intestine, appendix, spleen, liver, kidneys, and pancreas. An abdominal ultrasound is a quick, safe, and painless procedure for monitoring the vital body parts in the abdomen.
A radiologist or sonographer can perform an abdominal ultrasound on people of all ages. After applying clear gel to the abdominal area that needs imaging, a trained technician moves a hand-held device called a transducer, connected to an ultrasound machine, all across the belly area, which produces the sound waves. These sound waves create real-time images or videos on a monitor. The technician records these images for diagnosis by the doctor. Abdominal ultrasounds have no side effects and rarely cause discomfort in most patients.
Why perform abdominal ultrasounds
The abdomen houses various vital body organs, and ultrasound is an effective way to check the health and functioning of these organs. Healthcare providers can suggest an abdominal ultrasound to examine the size, location, and functioning of abdominal organs or investigate the symptoms of abdominal problems. Some common reasons to perform an abdominal ultrasound include detecting gallstones, kidney stones, cancer, tumors, blood clots, cysts, infection, organ enlargement, blocks, abdominal injuries, abscesses, appendicitis, or abnormal liver function.
A doctor also uses ultrasound to inspect the blood flow inside the abdomen or determine where to place the needle during an abdominal biopsy or drain fluid from an abscess or cyst. An abdominal ultrasound is a standard test doctors use to screen for abdominal aortic aneurysm, which can result from smoking, high blood pressure, or vascular inflammation. Early diagnosis effectively manages and treats aneurysms in males who smoke, are obese, are over 60, live a sedentary lifestyle, or have a family history of heart diseases and aneurysms.
How to prepare for the test
A healthcare provider provides specific instructions to follow before an abdominal ultrasound. The doctor may ask to avoid eating for 8 to 12 hours before going for an abdominal ultrasound to help prevent gas buildup in the area or not to take certain medications before the ultrasound. Some ultrasounds may require the patient to drink 4 to 6 glasses of water an hour before taking the test. Any other specific preparation usually depends on the medical condition and the doctor.