Ultrasound scan
Preparing for an ultrasound scan
Before having some types of ultrasound scan, you may be asked to follow certain instructions to help improve the quality of the images produced. For example, you may be advised to:
- drink water and not go to the toilet until after the scan this may be needed before a scan of your unborn baby or your pelvic area
- avoid eating for several hours before the scan this may be needed before a scan of your digestive system, including the liver and gallbladder
Depending on the area of your body being examined, the hospital may ask you to remove some clothing and wear a hospital gown.
If you need a sedative to help you relax,thiswill begiven through a small tube into the back of your hand or into your arm. In some cases, you may also be given an injection of a harmless substance called a contrast agent before the scan, as this can make the images clearer.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
An ultrasound scan, sometimes called a sonogram, is a procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of part of the inside of the body.
How ultrasound scans work
Asmall device called an ultrasound probe is used, which gives off high-frequency sound waves. You can't hear these sound waves, but when they bounce off different parts of the body, they create "echo
Preparing for an ultrasound scan
Before having some types of ultrasound scan, you may be asked to follow certain instructions to help improve the quality of the images produced. For example, you may be advised to: drink water and
What happens during an ultrasound scan
Most ultrasound scans last between 15 and 45 minutes.Theyusually take place ina hospital radiologydepartment andare performed either by a radiologist or a sonographer. They can also be carried out in
After an ultrasound scan
In most cases, there are no after-effects and you can go home soon after the scan is finished. If a sedative wasn't used, you can drive, eat, drink and return to your other normal activities straight
Are there any risks or side effects?
There are no known risks from the sound waves used in an ultrasound scan. Unlike some other scans, such as computerised tomography (CT) scans , ultrasound scans don't involve exposure to radiation .
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