Ultrasound
What is an Ultrasound?
An ultrasound scan, sometimes called a sonogram, is a procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of parts of the inside of the body.
Preparation
Before your scan, you may be asked to follow certain instructions:
Drink water and have a full bladder until after the scan
Avoid eating several hours before a scan for your digestive system
Depending on the area scanned you may be required to remove some clothing or wear a hospital gown
The Scan/What to expect
Patients are usually asked to lie down whilst the radiologist places a probe on the skin over the body part that is to be examined.
As the images are detected by the probe, they are displayed on the monitor in real-time.
The scan is painless and takes approximately 15-45 minutes dependent on the area.
After the scan
Patients are generally able to continue as normal after their scan unless they are having procedures with an interventional element.
Results are usually read within 24-48 hours and sent to the referring clinician. All patients are supplied with a CD consisting of the images from their scan.