|
Pre-Exam
Procedures
| Abdomen
(Includes pancreas, CBD, Liver,
Spleen, and Aorta |
Allow 1 hour for
exam |
Nothing to eat or drink
after midnight on the night
before your exam. |
| Arterial |
Allow 2 hours
for exam |
No preparation is required.
|
| Breast |
Allow 1 hour for
exam |
Usually performed after a
diagnostic mammogram; please
bring mammogram films to be
compared with this study. |
| Carotid arteries
(neck) |
Allow 1 hour for
exam |
No preparation is required.
|
| Gallbladder |
Allow 1 hour for
exam |
Nothing to eat or drink
after midnight on the night
before your exam. |
| Knee |
Allow 30 minutes
for exam |
No preparation is required.
|
| Obstetrical
Pelvic Ultrasound |
Allow 1.5 hours
for exam |
Patient should drink 40 oz
of fluids 1 hour before exam.
|
| Transabdominal
Pelvic Ultrasound |
Allow 30 minutes
for exam |
Patient should drink 40 oz.
of fluids 1 hour before exam.
|
| Renal (kidney)
Ultrasound |
Allow 1 hour for
exam |
No preparation is required.
|
| Testicular
Ultrasound |
Allow 45 minutes
for exam |
No preparation is required.
|
| Thyroid
ultrasound |
Allow 45 minutes
for exam |
No preparation is required.
|
| Venous Doppler
Ultrasound |
Allow 1 hour for
exam |
No preparation is required.
|
| Transvaginal
Pelvic Ultrasound |
Allow 30 minutes
for exam |
No preparation is required.
Bladder does not need to be
full. |
| 2D
Echocardiography |
Allow 1 hour for
exam |
NO caffeine for 24 hours
before test. Eat light meal for
breakfast |
| Breast
Aspiration |
Allow 1.5-2
hours for exam |
No preparation is required.
Patient should bring previous
mammogram films. |
What is
Ultrasound?
Ultrasound is a highly
effective, safe, and painless imaging
technique used to view soft structures
in the body. Using high frequency sound
waves that reflect off of a body
structure to create an image on a
monitor. The echoes from the sound waves
create images that show size, distance,
and uniformity of an organ. The images
are shown in real time on your monitor
screen. The Imaging Center is pleased to
be the first outpatient center in the
North County area to offer 3D
Ultrasound technology, which
provides a clearer and more detailed
image for the radiologist to view. It
also allows for a quicker, more
comfortable exam for you.
What should I
expect when I arrive?
Your exam will be
performed by a board-certified
technologist that has specialized in
Ultrasonography. Your technologist will
describe to you what will take place
during the test. Sound waves are
captured using a device called a
transducer, which she will place over
your skin. In order to make the device
more comfortable for you, she will place
a small amount of lubricant onto your
skin that may feel cold at first. Our
Ultrasound suites are designed with
patient comfort in mind, and our
technologists are there to help you feel
relaxed as well as informed throughout
your exam.
How long will
the exam take?
Your exam should take
between 30 minutes and 2 hours,
depending on the type of test being
performed. You should allow yourself
about 15 extra minutes for registration
and changing.
What happens
after the exam?
Your exam will be
interpreted by a board-certified
radiologist with many years of training
and professional experience. A report
will be sent to your doctor within 24
hours and he or she will contact you
with the results. Your physician will
review your clinical history in
conjunction with exam results to provide
you with the most accurate diagnosis and
optimal treatment plan.
Special Concerns
Please note that some
ultrasound exams require you to have a
full bladder. For those exams, it is
very important to have already consumed
the necessary fluid before you arrive.
It is also very important to arrive to
your exam on time, ensuring a quick and
comfortable experience.
|
Ultrasound
