It is possible to detect defects in the abdominal cavity, as well as in the pelvic organs, using a procedure such as abdominal ultrasound. What kind of research method is this and how it is carried out - we'll talk about it today. We will also find out how to prepare for this event, and also determine the advantages of this diagnostic method.
Explanation of the concept
Many people get lost and don't know what a procedure called an abdominal ultrasound is. What is this phrase, and what is its peculiarity? Abdominal ultrasound or otherwise transabdominal is a way to obtain accurate information about the abdominal organs, kidneys, excretory system, prostate, uterus. This diagnostic method requires special training, and the manipulation itself does not cause pain. The result, by the way, will be ready immediately after the manipulation. Such diagnostics allows the doctor to assess the he alth status of his patient in a short time and confirm or exclude any problems, neoplasms, pathological processes.
Checking internal organs
This procedurereminiscent of traditional ultrasound. Abdominal ultrasound of the abdominal cavity differs only in that during the manipulation a special sensor is used, which is only found in the abdomen. This body scan method helps to recognize the following problems:
- Hepatitis.
- Cirrhosis.
- Tumors at any stage.
- Cysts.
- Abscesses.
- Pyelonephritis.
- Stones in the gallbladder and bile ducts.
- Cholecystitis.
- Deviations in the development of the bubble.
- Necrosis, inflammation, tumors in the pancreas.
- Injuries and hemorrhages in the spleen. Enlargement or reduction of this organ.
Which organs are examined?
What is included in an abdominal ultrasound? At the time of this analysis, the following organs are examined:
- stomach;
- pancreas;
- lymph nodes;
- spleen;
- kidneys, adrenal glands, ureter.
- gallbladder;
- liver;
- Duodenum 12;
- large and small intestine;
- uterus;
- prostate.
Conditions for the successful completion of the study
Preparing for an abdominal ultrasound is an important step that must be followed in order to obtain more accurate results. But if the patient has an acute pathology, then no preliminary actions should be taken. In other cases, you need to prepare for the study:
- Ultrasound should only be done2 days after x-ray.
- In order for nothing to interfere with the study, the patient must first remove gases from the intestines. To do this, a person must follow a diet; 1 day before the manipulation, take activated charcoal, and in the evening before the diagnosis, it is advisable to put an enema or a candle with glycerin.
- The study must be carried out on an empty stomach. The last meal time should be at 6 pm the previous day.
- Immediately before the manipulation, it is forbidden to smoke. It turns out that nicotine can cause gallbladder spasms and also skew results.
- Bladder filling is an important condition for pelvic ultrasound. An abdominal examination of the uterus, prostate or bladder will show a reliable result if a person drinks about 400 ml of water or juice half an hour before the analysis. During the analysis of the pelvic organs, the patient may experience discomfort associated with the urge to urinate.
Diet before the procedure. Nutrition Features
As it turned out, preparation for an abdominal ultrasound is a mandatory step on the way to a successful study. Diagnosis of the abdominal organs takes place on an empty stomach. 3 days before the ultrasound, a person should start dieting. Foods to eat and drink during this time:
- Porridge: buckwheat, barley.
- Low-fat boiled sea fish.
- One boiled egg per day.
- Non-greasy firmcheese.
- Boiled beef.
- Weak tea, purified water.
Foods not allowed 3 days prior to study:
- Raw fruits, vegetables.
- Sugar, candy, chocolate.
- Legumes.
- Dairy products.
- Bread and various sweets (cookies, pies, buns).
- Fatty meat, fish.
- Sugary drinks, juices, coffee.
- Alcohol.
Children under 3 years old, as well as infants, also undergo abdominal ultrasound. How to prepare in this case? Parents should stop feeding their sons or daughters 3 hours before the study, and it is also forbidden to water the babies 50 minutes before the diagnosis. Boys and girls over 3 years of age should not eat 8 hours before a body scan and drink 1 hour before.
Research on pregnant women
For pregnant women, specialists can use two diagnostic methods: abdominal or transvaginal ultrasound. If you need to confirm the presence of pregnancy in the first trimester, then the second method is used. Already in the second and third trimester, the gynecologist sends for an abdominal ultrasound. At a period of up to 12 weeks, it is impossible to carry out such an analysis, since intestinal loops that close the uterus will interfere with this. Over time, the uterus will expand, allowing you to better observe the fetal head.
Abdominal ultrasound during pregnancy is done like this:
- The woman lies on her left side. This is necessary so that there is no compression of the lowerpudendal vein.
- The specialist applies a special gel to the stomach, and then starts to move the sensor.
Such a study in relation to pregnant women in the 2nd and 3rd trimester is carried out with the aim of:
- Establishing the gestational age.
- Determining what condition the uterus is in.
- Assess the position of the fetus.
- Determining the volume of amniotic fluid.
- Examination of the fetal brain, choroid plexus.
- Assess the condition of the placenta, its maturity, density, thickness.
- Analysis of the state of the cervix. If a woman has previously had a caesarean section or had operations on her uterus, then the doctor must understand and decide whether the expectant mother will be able to give birth to a baby on her own, or will she have to get the baby in an unnatural way.
Timing for female genital analysis
- In case of urgent diagnosis, the girl should name the date of the last menstruation.
- If there is suspicion of an inflammatory process in the uterine appendages, then this analysis is permissible on any day of the cycle.
- After an abortion, an abdominal ultrasound is done at the end of the next menstruation. If a woman has pain, bleeding, then the scan is performed on any day.
- If there is a suspicion of fibroids, then the study is done in the first phase of the cycle.
Indications for the procedure for men
The strong half of humanity needs to undergo such a scan if they haveobserved:
- Groin pain.
- Discomfort in the scrotum or perineum.
- Painful or frequent urination.
- Filling the bladder when the man is unable to empty it completely.
- Discharge from the urethra.
- Problems with potency.
- Droplets of blood in the urine.
What device is being tested?
The diagnosis described in this article is done using a special device called an abdominal ultrasound probe. This device, which looks like a small stick with a hat, can be of different sizes. Depending on in relation to whom the study will be conducted (children, newborns, adults), a specific sensor is selected. Such a device is called convex. The sensor can also remind many of a microphone that is connected to the scanner with a cable. During abdominal ultrasound, the device does not need to be protected (unlike transvaginal diagnostics, when a condom is put on the device).
Ultrasound of the abdominal organs of the abdominal cavity
- A person walks into an office, strips to the waist.
- Lies down on the couch, head towards the sonologist.
- Specialist applies gel to abdomen.
- During the examination, the person should lie still, not move.
- The sonologist will move the sensor along the necessary organs, and the image will be transmitted to the screen.
Scanning itself takes nomore than 20 minutes. The study is absolutely painless and also safe for humans.
Method advantages
What is an abdominal ultrasound for, what is it all about, is already clear to everyone. Now is the time to learn about the benefits of this diagnostic method:
- Since during the analysis the picture of not only a specific organ, but also neighboring ones is visible on the screen, it is easier and easier for a specialist to get a general picture of the state of the organs. And this will allow him to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the right treatment.
- If this study is done to a woman to examine the pelvic organs, then the transvaginal method is not able to show large tumors of the uterus and appendages. Therefore, in this case, abdominal ultrasound will help to give a more complete picture.
- Painless conduct.
- Safety.
- This is the only way to assess the condition of the uterus in girls who have not yet lost their virginity.
- This is the most simple and informative method for diagnosing the he alth of the prostate gland in men.
Conclusion
Thanks to this article, you have learned everything about abdominal ultrasound: what is the procedure, how it is performed, how it differs from transvaginal examination. We realized that for a more accurate and truthful result of the diagnosis of the abdominal organs, it is important to properly prepare for the manipulation.
