Ultrasound of the abdomen is a diagnostic method that shows the structure of various organs in the abdominal cavity. It is a painless, non-invasive way of examining the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, pancreas, spleen, both kidneys, adrenal glands, urinary bladder, prostate (for men), and large blood vessels and lymph nodes in the abdominal cavity. The review is completely painless and lasts around 30 minutes.
With this review, the structure of the stomach, colon and small intestine cannot be seen because these hollow organs are filled with gas.
INDICATIONS / WHY IT IS DONE?
Ultrasound of the abdomen is a reliable and effective method in detecting and monitoring various organ diseases in the abdominal cavity:
• Congenital anomalies, inflammatory changes, cysts.
Benign and malignant tumors.
• Liver cirrhosis, presence of stone in the gall bladder or kidney.
• The presence of free fluid (ascit / ascites) in the abdominal cavity.
• Extension (aneurysm) and deposits (plaques) on large blood vessels, etc.
HOW IT IS PERFORMED?
The patient is on the bed for examination, after which the doctor puts a special gel on the surface of the ultrasound probe. The probe is a small device that sends and receives ultrasound waves and is placed on the patient’s abdomen. Gel has the role of improving the conductivity of ultrasonic waves and eliminating air between the skin and the probe.
RISKS
The review does not carry any risk.
PREPARATION
• You should not eat 4 hours before checking. The last meal you will have before recording should be easy, for example. a piece of zwieback and a cup of tea.
• It is necessary to drink about 3-4 glasses of liquid (water) within half an hour for 1.5 hours before examining and then do not wet.
• It is desirable that you do not take the food that fills (beans, cabbage, peas …) two to three days before the examination.
AFTER ULTRASOUND
You can safely return to your usual activities.