Using high-frequency sound waves, an ultrasonic scan generates an image of a person’s internal bodily systems. A developing foetus, abdominal and pelvic organs, muscles and tendons, and a person’s heart and blood vessels are all examined with ultrasound. An ultrasound scan is also known as a sonogram or echocardiography. In most cases, an ultrasound scan is non-invasive. Some scans, however, need the use of a specific probe introduced into the person’s vagina, rectum, or oesophagus. Doctors sometimes use ultrasound Narellan scanning to monitor and guide invasive procedures such as biopsy a person’s breast or thyroid gland.
How does ultrasound procedure work?
Sonar technology, which employs sound waves to identify items beneath the ocean’s surface, is similar to ultrasound. Ultrasound probes are used by healthcare experts known as diagnostic medical sonographers. The probe is a sound-generating instrument. A sonographer applies a specific gel to the region of the body that will be examined. The probe is passed over or through that location. Internal tissues bounce sound waves from the probe. The sound waves form a live image that is displayed on a nearby computer screen. The sound waves are not audible.
Ultrasound scans have a variety of applications.
Doctors often use ultrasound for operations such as:
Abdominal scans:
Abdominal scans can be used to look into abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, strange sounds, and tumours. The gallbladder, bile ducts, liver, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, and major blood arteries may be examined. Because air hinders the transmission of sound waves, ultrasonography cannot be used to investigate structures that contain air.
Pelvic scans:
A pelvic scan may be conducted if a woman has pelvic pain, irregular periods, fibroids, cysts, or other disorders involving the female reproductive system.
Pregnancy scans:
Pregnancy scans are used to look for foetal anomalies, determine the age and location of a foetus, and track the development of the foetus. An ultrasound Narellan scan is currently considered standard for pregnant women.
Other applications:
Other uses include musculoskeletal scans to examine areas such as the shoulder, hip, or elbow, breast scans to analyse an anomaly discovered through a physical examination or mammogram, and an eye scan to check its internal structures. Doppler ultrasonography is a type of ultrasound that detects the speed and direction of blood flow in specific body areas, such as the neck arteries and leg veins.
What should I do to get ready for an ultrasound?
Before your exam, your healthcare practitioner will offer you steps to help ensure clear images.
· Before your scan, avoid going to the bathroom.
· Before your scan, drink a particular amount of water.
· Before getting an ultrasound, you must fast for a particular amount of hours.
Things to do after ultrasound examination
Depending on the sort of examination, an ultrasound scan can take anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes. The sonographer will give you paper towels to wipe up the goo after the operation. After that, you can get dressed. The ultrasound scan results are normally given to your doctor, so you will need to schedule a follow-up appointment with them to acquire them. The majority of ultrasound scans are non-invasive, and they do not employ ionising radiation like x-rays.
Summing it up
An ultrasound usually takes 30 minutes to an hour. Ultrasounds are normally painless, and you remain awake and alert throughout the process. Often, a technician will explain what they see during the test, but in some cases, you may need to wait to speak with your doctor about the results.
