Introduction to Abdominal Ultrasounds

Abdominal ultrasounds are usually quick and painless.

An abdominal ultrasound is a safe, painless, and non-invasive diagnostic imaging test used by medical practitioners to evaluate, diagnose, and treat the organs and structures in the abdominal cavity. These organs include the kidneys, pancreas, spleen, gallbladder, and liver. The practitioner can also use it to assess blood flow to these organs. The ultrasound technology allows a quick visualization of the abdominal region from outside the body. Unlike other imaging techniques like X-ray, an abdominal ultrasound does not use radiation. The procedure also does not have any known side effects.

What happens during an abdominal ultrasound

For an abdominal ultrasound, a person is made to lie on their back on an examination table. A radiologist applies a water-based gel to the abdominal skin. The transducer is then pressed against the skin and moved gently to allow the sound waves to pass through the abdomen efficiently. The ultrasound machine releases high-frequency sound waves into the body, which bounce off the organs. A computer then uses these sound waves to create digital images of the organs in the upper belly area. The images produced through ultrasound are called sonograms.

The need to perform an abdominal ultrasound

A doctor uses abdominal ultrasound to examine the developing fetus during pregnancy. A doctor may suggest an abdominal ultrasound to assess the size and location of digestive system components like the gallbladder, pancreas, and liver or other organs like the spleen, kidneys, bladder, or abdominal blood vessels. A doctor can also use an abdominal ultrasound to diagnose conditions such as:

• Tumors

• Cysts

• Infection

• Obstructions

• Clots in the blood vessels

• Kidney stones

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm

• Some types of cancers

• Gallstones

• Liver and kidney diseases

• Inflammatory conditions

• Narrowing of blood vessels

• Altered liver function

• Hernia

A doctor can also perform an abdominal ultrasound when placing needles into the abdomen to drain a cyst.

Preparing for an abdominal ultrasound

Usually, the healthcare provider gives the necessary guidelines to follow before the abdominal ultrasound. Depending on the specific situation and nature of the problem, a person may need some or no preparation before the test. The procedure may require a person to fast for eight to twelve hours before the examination. A person undertaking the test should not wear any jewelry or other valuables. For kidney ultrasound, the provider can ask a person to drink four to six glasses of water before the test.

What to expect during and after the procedure

Abdominal ultrasounds are usually quick and painless. The whole procedure can take up to 30 minutes to complete. The time can be more or less based on specific situations. A person can return to normal activities immediately; no particular care is required after the abdominal ultrasound. The healthcare provider can discuss the need for an ultrasound and what a person can expect from the results. The doctor can also provide additional instructions a person needs to follow after the ultrasound based on a particular situation.

A radiologist reviews the images from the abdominal ultrasound and sends the result to the doctor, who discusses the results and their meaning for a person’s health.