Ultrasound Scan: A Non-Invasive and Powerful Diagnostic Tool

Ultrasound Scan: A Non-Invasive Diagnostic Tool

An ultrasound scan, or sonogram, is a medical technique utilizing high-frequency sound waves that create pictures inside the body. This non-invasive procedure makes it widely applied in various health conditions without performing surgery or using radiation.

In an ultrasound test, a small device, known as a transducer, is placed on the skin after a gel application to ensure good transmission of the waves. The transducer sends off the sound waves, and they bounce back from all tissues and organs in the body. The reflected waves are received and translated into real-time images that will appear on the monitor.

Ultrasound scans are some of the most commonly applied techniques in obstetrics to monitor an unborn baby during pregnancy. They are even used for diagnosing conditions such as in organs like the heart, liver, kidneys, and gallbladder. They determine blood flow, detect a tumor, or guide the surgeon during certain procedures.

For instance, a screening test for abdominal aortic aneurysm, or AAA, relies on ultrasound to find bulges or weaknesses in the aorta. Ultrasound scans are painless and safe while giving doctors the information needed without the risks that come with other imaging techniques, including X-rays or CT scans.

How Ultrasound Scans Work

An ultrasound scan is the use of high-frequency sound waves to create images of what’s inside the body. The procedure makes use of a small device called an ultrasound probe (or transducer), which emits these sound waves. Even though these sound waves are too high for human hearing, they can travel through the body and bounce off tissues and organs.

When the waves hit different structures inside the body, they bounce back and cause “echoes” that the probe picks. The ultrasound then converts these echoes into real-time images and are then viewed on a monitor during the scanning process, making it easy for health care practitioners to analyze the internal structure.

The process is non-invasive, painless, and safe because ultrasound does not emit radiation as X-rays and CT scans do. Most commonly used for monitoring pregnancies, organ conditions, blood flow, and guiding procedures, images provided by the ultrasound help detect issues like tumors, cysts, or an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Ultrasound scans are a great non-invasive method of seeing inside the body without the need for surgical interventions or more invasive tests that take longer and provide less clear results.

Preparing for an Ultrasound Scan

Preparing for an ultrasound scan typically involves following specific instructions to ensure that the images produced are of the highest quality. The exact preparation depends on the area of the body being examined.

For example:

Preparation for an ultrasound scan will depend on guidelines followed to enable the best image. The preparation is centered on the region of the body to be imaged.

For instance:

Drink water and retain urine: You may be instructed to drink a lot of water and refrain from urinating until after the scan of your pelvic area or to check up on an unborn baby. During such scans, pictures tend to be clearer if your bladder is full.

Avoid eating or drinking: For digestive system ultrasounds, including the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas, you will often be asked to avoid eating or drinking before several hours up to the procedure. This is because clear pictures through the ultrasound are done at minimal presence of gas in the stomach or intestines.

Clothing: Depending on the area to be scanned, you might be asked to remove some

clothing and put on a hospital gown. This way, you will be accessible enough in the areas that will be examined without disturbing your comfort and privacy.

Sedation: You may have a sedative if you are anxious or require a further detailed scan. This is administered through a small tube that is inserted into the back of your hand or arm.

Contrast agent: On occasion, you will be administered a contrast agent by injection just prior to the scan. The substance is harmless and enhances the images to give more defined views of certain areas, such as blood vessels or tumors.

If you follow these instructions to the letter, everything will go smoothly with the ultrasound scan, and results will be the best they could possibly be.

What happens during an ultrasound scan

Most ultrasound scans take anywhere between 15 and 45 minutes. They mostly occur in the radiology departments of hospitals and may be conducted by a doctor, radiographer, or even a sonographer.

Some of them may also take place in community settings including general practitioner practices, with others being carried out by other health care professionals, especially those who are trained for such work like midwives, or physiotherapists among others.

There are different types of ultrasound scans, depending on which part of the body is being scanned and where it is required.

The 3 main types are:

External ultrasound scan – the probe is moved over the skin

Internal ultrasound scan – the probe is inserted into the body

Endoscopic ultrasound scan – the probe is attached to a long, thin, flexible tube (an endoscope) and passed further into the body

These techniques are described below.

External ultrasound scan

It is most often used to check out the heart or an unborn baby in the womb for an external ultrasound scan.

It may be used to examine the liver, kidneys, and other organs inside the tummy and pelvis, among other organs or tissues that may be assessed through the skin, such as muscles and joints.

A small handheld probe is applied to your skin, moved over the area being looked at, and rubbed around

There’s a lubricating gel put on your skin, allowing the probe to move over with little resistance. This also assures constant contact between the probe and the skin

You won’t feel any pain besides the sensor and possibly gel against your skin-most often this is cold.

You can be scanned with a full bladder for maybe causing you some minor inconveniences.

A toilet is available so that you may void the urine in your bladder immediately after finishing the exercise.

Internal/Transvaginal Ultrasonography

If an internal check on your parts is to take place, a doctor could, for example, be at liberty to obtain an easy visual view of some of the internal structures such as the prostate gland or uterus and ovaries.

A “transvaginal” ultrasound means “through the vagina”. You would be then instructed to lie down on your back, or on your side with the knees drawn up toward the chest, during the process of Ultrasonography.

An ultrasound probe, about as wide as a finger, covered in a sterile sheath is then passed into the vagina or rectum, and images are transmitted to a monitor.

Internal exams are somewhat uncomfortable but in most cases not painful and should not take much time.

Endoscopic Ultrasound Scan

For an endoscopic ultrasound scan, an endoscope is placed inside your body, normally through the mouth, to investigate your body parts, like your stomach or food pipe (oesophagus).

You would often be placed on your side as the endoscope is slowly advanced towards your stomach.

It contains a light and an ultrasound device on the end so when inserted into the body, sound waves are used to generate images just like an external ultrasound.

You will receive a sedative to calm you down and local anaesthetic spray to numb your throat since an endoscopic ultrasound can be uncomfortable and even cause vomiting.

You would also wear a mouth guard that is designed to keep your mouth open besides protecting your teeth in case you get a chance to bite the endoscope.

After an Ultrasound Scan

Most people do not experience any after-effects following an ultrasound scan. However, the post-scan instructions may vary depending on the type of ultrasound scan you had.

No sedative was used: If no sedative was administered to you, you can immediately leave for driving, eating, drinking, and engaging in all your other daily activities right after the scan is over.

Sedative used: If you received a sedative to keep you calm during your endoscopic ultrasound, you may have to stay in the hospital for some hours until the effects of the sedative are fully eradicated. Ensure you have someone to pick you from the hospital as you won’t be able to drive. You also avoid taking alcohol or using machines within 24 hours

Outcome of Your Ultrasound Scan

You might be given the results of your scan straight away when it’s finished, but more often than not, images will be reviewed and a report is then sent to the doctor who referred you. Your doctor will then discuss the findings with you at a follow-up appointment or within a few days.

Risks and Side Effects

Generally, ultrasound scans are very safe and no known risks exist when using the sound waves. Unlike CT scans in ultrasound the patient do not need to be exposed to radiation. External and internal ultrasound scans are usually painless, although you may feel a slight discomfort as the probe is placed over your skin or inserted into your body.

If you are having an internal scan and have a latex allergy, let the technician know so they can provide a latex-free probe cover.

For endoscopic ultrasounds, there could be some temporary discomfort like sore throat or bloating. Though rare, there is a possibility of more serious complications like internal bleeding, which may occur in invasive procedures. So, it’s very important to follow post-procedure instructions carefully.

Ultrasound scans are therefore overall safe, non-invasive, and have definite diagnostic effectiveness with minimal side effects.