An abdominal ultrasound is a safe, non-invasive procedure that uses sound waves to create real-time images of your internal organs. Here's everything you need to know.
What Does It Examine?
An abdominal ultrasound can visualise several organs including:
- Kidneys - checking for stones, cysts, or abnormalities
- Gallbladder - looking for gallstones
- Pancreas - assessing for inflammation or masses
- Liver - evaluating size, texture, and abnormalities
- Spleen - checking size and structure
- Aorta - the main blood vessel
What Can It Detect?
Common findings include:
- Gallstones
- Kidney stones
- Aneurysms
- Liver disease
- Tumours or masses
- Fluid collections
- Cancer metastasis
- Organ enlargement
How to Prepare
Fasting Required
You'll typically need to fast for six to eight hours before your appointment. This ensures:
- Your gallbladder is full and visible
- There's less gas in your intestines
- Images are clearer
What You Can Have
- Small sips of water for essential medication
- Check with us if you're diabetic or have other concerns
The Procedure
- Preparation - You'll lie on an examination table
- Gel application - Lubricating gel is applied to your abdomen
- Scanning - The sonographer moves a transducer across your abdomen
- Duration - The process takes roughly 30 minutes
- After - You can resume normal activities immediately
Is It Safe?
There aren't any risks involved with abdominal ultrasounds. Unlike X-rays or CT scans:
- No radiation is used
- The procedure is completely painless
- There are no known side effects
- It's safe to have repeat scans
Getting Results
- A radiologist interprets the images
- Findings are sent to your referring physician
- Your doctor will discuss results with you
Advantages of Ultrasound
Compared to other imaging:
- Non-invasive
- No radiation
- Relatively affordable
- Real-time imaging
- Widely available
Book your abdominal ultrasound at Ultrasound Ireland. Call 01 210 0232 or visit our medical scans page.
Tags:abdominal-ultrasoundmedical-scansliverkidneysgallbladder
