Abdominal and pelvic imaging
Abdominal and pelvic ultrasound is one of the most frequently performed ultrasound examinations (right next to breast ultrasound). It is successfully performed on the youngest children, adults, as well as pregnant and lactating women. This examination allows assessment of all organs located in the abdominal and pelvic cavities, in addition to the bile ducts, vessels, aorta and retroperitoneal space.
Indications for abdominal and pelvic ultrasound:
- Abdominal and pelvic pain – both chronic and acute
- persistent and repeated diarrhea, constipation and vomiting
- difficulty in urinating
- increase in abdominal circumference
- Weight loss (unintentional, uncontrolled)
- yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes
- feeling a lump/thickening in the abdominal and pelvic area
- injuries in the abdominal and pelvic area
- persistent, unidentified febrile conditions
- bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract or urinary tract
- abnormal test results
- suspected anatomical defects
Contraindications to abdominal and pelvic ultrasounds
There are no contraindications to abdominal and pelvic ultrasound – the examination is completely safe, regardless of the age of the patient. What’s more, it can also be performed without any concerns in pregnant and breastfeeding women. It can be performed in very short intervals, as the high-frequency sound waves responsible for the formation of the image do not affect the human body in any negative way.
Preparation for abdominal and pelvic ultrasound examination
In order to obtain the maximum diagnostic value of the examination, the patient should prepare for it properly. First of all, 2 days before the examination the patient should avoid eating heavy and bloated food, and the day before the examination it is advisable to take espumisan. On the day of the examination, on the other hand, the patient should be fasting (at least 5-6h before the examination, the patient should absolutely abstain from food and carbonated beverages). It is allowed to take necessary medications. An hour before the examination, patients are advised to drink about 1l of still water and abstain from urination. From a diagnostic point of view, abdominal and pelvic ultrasound should be performed with a filled bladder – this allows obtaining an image of greater diagnostic value.
Course of the study
The patient scheduled for an ultrasound of the abdomen and pelvis, should appear at PP DIAGNOSTYKA 30 minutes before the scheduled examination. This is because this time is necessary to fill out the required documentation, and above all the medical questionnaire, which is an extremely important element for the radiologist. Upon entering the office, a medical history is taken. In addition, the doctor reviews any previous medical records relating to the area being examined. The patient is then asked to lie on his back and expose the area to be examined. In this position, the radiologist performs the ultrasound examination, guiding the camera’s head across the abdomen and pelvis. The examination lasts from a dozen to about 30 minutes, and at the end of the examination the doctor discusses what has been imaged, draws up and issues a written result and any further recommendations.