Ultrasound
ABDOMINAL
- Eat a low-fat and dairy-free dinner the night before your examination
- No carbonated drinks 12 hours before your appointment
- Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before
- Do not eat breakfast
Breast Ultrasound
- No preparation required.
MSK Ultrasound
- No preparation required.
PELVIC
- Drink 4-5 glasses (or 2 small bottles) of clear fluid (water or juice) one hour before examination
- Do not empty your bladder prior to having this exam (bladder must be full)
- No fasting necessary
PREGNANCY/OBSTETRICAL
- You do not need to fast for this exam (eat all meals as usual on the day of the exam)
- Drink 4-5 glasses (or 2 small bottles) of clear fluid (water or juice) one hour before examination
- Do not empty your bladder prior to having this exam (bladder must be full)
What to expect during ultrasound exam:
Your exam will be performed by a sonographer – a healthcare professional specially trained in the use of ultrasound. The sonographer will apply a small amount of gel to the skin over the area being scanned.
Sonography uses Ultrasonic waves to produce images in other word ultrasound produces sound waves that are beamed into the body causing return echoes that are recorded to “visualize” structures beneath the skin.
A skilled sonographers at Downtown Radiology, the leading ultrasound clinic in Vancouver is able to see inside the body using ultrasonography to collect and record images that are being used by radiologists to answer questions that may be asked by the medical practitioner caring for the patient. Radiologists will oversee the ultrasound test and report on the results. Ultrasound also is the only and safest diagnostic tool to assess the fetus during pregnancy.
Ultrasound can be enhanced by using Doppler technology which can measure whether an object is moving towards or away from the probe. This can allow the technician to measure blood flow in organs such as the heart or liver, or within specific blood vessels.