Usually, a woman undergoes an ultrasound during pregnancy, but aside from that, doctors can also use it for other medical purposes such as an examination of a patient’s abdomen. Ultrasound uses sound waves to create images and videos of the body. It is safe and painless to perform.
What is an abdominal ultrasound?
An abdominal ultrasound allows doctors to see the inside of the body including the organs such as gallbladder, liver, spleen, pancreas and kidney. It does not require preparation aside from fasting, if necessary.
Why do you need to have an abdominal ultrasound?
Ultrasound can help in early detection of certain diseases. If your doctor thinks that you have one of the conditions mentioned below, then an abdominal ultrasound may be requested.
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Enlarged liver, kidney or spleen
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Blood clot
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Abdominal cavity fluid
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A hernia
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Gallstone
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Pancreatitis
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Cancer of the kidney
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Kidney stones
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Appendicitis
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Liver cancer
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Tumours
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Ovarian cyst
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Endometriosis
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PID or pelvic inflammatory disease
Once doctors have detected a condition, then it will be easier to plan for your course of treatment. So, if you feel something funny in your body, make sure that you talk to your doctor.
It may also help doctors during medical procedures such as an abdominal biopsy. The images produced by ultrasound can help them see where to extract the sample tissue from an organ. It can also help doctors when draining fluids from an abscess or cyst.
What are the risks of abdominal ultrasound?
Unlike other procedures, ultrasound has no risks. It does not emit radiation, and that is the reason why most doctors prefer to use it instead of CT scans and X-rays. It is also safe to use on kids and even babies.
However, prolonged exposure to ultrasound may cause slight damage to the tissues. It may also create small pockets of gas in tissues and body fluids.
What should you do before the test?
Some abdominal ultrasounds may require the patient to stop drinking water. Some may also require fasting which may last from 8 to 12 hours before the ultrasound. Fasting is requested to make sure that the radiologist will have a clear picture or image of the abdomen. However, if the ultrasound targets the liver, gallbladder, spleen or pancreas, you may be advised by your physician to eat a fat-free meal the night before the procedure.
Taking care of your body is very important since this will dictate your life. Aside from staying away from vices, it is also advisable to have yourself checked at least once a year. If you are suffering from any condition, then you may opt to visit your doctor as often as necessary.
An abdominal ultrasound is just one of the many ways you can have a better picture of what is going on inside your body. Look for well-known and high-quality clinics and make an appointment with a private ultrasound London clinic so that you can quickly assess your current health condition. Nevertheless, always remember that prevention is much better than cure, so stay healthy as you should be and remain free from diseases.