Defects in the abdominal cavity, as well as in the pelvic organs, can be detected using a procedure such as abdominal ultrasound. What is this research method and how it is carried out - we’ll talk about this 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 do not know what the procedure called abdominal ultrasound is. What is this phrase, and what is its feature? Abdominal ultrasound or transabdominal in another way - a way to obtain accurate information about the organs of the abdominal cavity, kidneys, excretory system, prostate gland, 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. This diagnosis allows the doctor to quickly assess the health status of his patient and confirm or exclude any problems, neoplasms, pathological processes.
Internal organ checkup
This procedure resembles a traditional ultrasound examination. 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 method of scanning the body 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 bladder.
- Necrosis, inflammation, tumors in the pancreas.
- Injuries and hemorrhages in the spleen. An increase or decrease in this organ.
What organs are examined?
What is included in abdominal ultrasound of the abdominal cavity? At the time of this analysis, the following organs are examined:
- stomach;
- pancreas;
- The lymph nodes;
- spleen;
- kidneys, adrenal glands, ureter.
- gall bladder;
- liver;
- 12 duodenal ulcer;
- large and small intestines;
- the uterus;
- prostate.
Conditions for successful research
Preparation for abdominal ultrasound is an important step that must be followed to obtain more accurate results. But if the patient has an acute pathology, then no preliminary steps should be taken. In other cases, it is necessary to prepare for the study:
- Ultrasound should be performed only 2 days after the x-ray.
- In order for nothing to interfere with the study, the patient must remove gases from the intestine in advance. For 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 should be at 6 pm the previous day.
- It is forbidden to smoke right before the manipulation. It turns out that nicotine can provoke spasms in the gallbladder, as well as distort the results.
- Filling the bladder is an important condition for ultrasound of the pelvic organs. 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. Power Features
As it turned out, preparation for an abdominal ultrasound is an essential step on the path to successful research. Diagnosis of the abdominal organs is an empty stomach. 3 days before the ultrasound, a person should begin to adhere to a diet. Products that you can eat and drink at this time:
- Porridge: buckwheat, barley.
- Low-fat boiled sea fish.
- One boiled egg per day.
- Low-fat hard cheese.
- Boiled beef.
- Weak tea, purified water.
Products that are forbidden to take 3 days before the study:
- Raw fruits, vegetables.
- Sugar, sweets, chocolate.
- Legumes.
- Dairy products.
- Bread and various rich products (cookies, pies, rolls).
- Fatty meat, fish.
- Sweet drinks, juices, coffee.
- Alcohol.
Children under 3 years of age, 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 drink babies 50 minutes before the diagnosis. Boys and girls over 3 years old should not eat 8 hours before scanning the body, and drink - 1 hour before it.
Research in relation to pregnant
For women in position, 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. With a period of up to 12 weeks, it is impossible to conduct such an analysis, since this will be interfered with by loops of the intestine covering the uterus. Over time, the uterus will increase, which will allow good monitoring of the fetal head.
Abdominal ultrasound during pregnancy is done as follows:
- The woman lies on her left side. This is necessary so that compression of the inferior genital vein does not occur.
- The specialist applies a special gel to the stomach, and then begins to drive the sensor.
Such a study in relation to pregnant women in the 2nd and 3rd trimester is carried out with the aim of:
- Establishment of gestational age.
- Definitions of the condition of the uterus.
- Estimates the position of the fetus.
- Determination of amniotic fluid volume.
- Inspection of the fetal brain, vascular plexuses.
- Assessment of the state of the placenta, its maturity, density, thickness.
- Analysis of the condition of the cervix. If a woman previously underwent a cesarean section or she had operations on her uterus, then the doctor must understand and decide whether the future mother will be able to give birth to her baby on her own, or whether she will have to get the baby in an unnatural way.
Dates for female genital analysis
- In case of urgent diagnosis, the girl should indicate the date of the last menstruation.
- If there is a suspicion of an inflammatory process in the uterine appendages, then this analysis is acceptable 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 a scan is performed 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
A strong half of humanity needs to undergo such a scan if they have:
- Pain in the groin.
- Discomfort in the scrotum or perineum.
- Painful or frequent urination.
- Filling of the bladder, when at the same time a man can not empty it to the end.
- Discharge from the urethra.
- Problems with potency.
- Drops of blood in the urine.
What device is used to study?
The diagnostics described in this article are done using a special device called an abdominal ultrasound sensor. This device, which looks like a small stick with a hat, can be of different sizes. Depending on who the study will be conducted on (children, newborns, adults) and a specific sensor is selected. Such a device is called convex. The sensor can also remind many people of a microphone that connects to the scanner using a cable. During abdominal ultrasound, the device does not need to be protected (unlike transvaginal diagnosis, when a condom is put on the device).
Ultrasound of abdominal abdominal organs
- A man enters the office, strips to the waist.
- Lays down on the couch, head to the sonologist.
- The specialist applies gel to the stomach.
- During the study, a person should lie calmly, not move.
- The sonologist will move the sensor through the necessary organs, and the image will be transmitted to the screen.
Scanning itself takes no more than 20 minutes. The study is absolutely painless and also safe for humans.
Method Advantages
Why is an abdominal ultrasound necessary, 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 a 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 organs. And this will allow him to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the right treatment.
- If this study is done by a woman to examine the pelvic organs, then the trasvaginal method is not able to show large tumors of the uterus and appendages. Therefore, in this case, abdominal ultrasound will help give a more complete picture.
- Painless conduct.
- Harmlessness.
- This is the only way in which you can evaluate the condition of the uterus in girls who have not yet lost their virginity.
- This is the simplest and most informative method for diagnosing prostate health in men.
Conclusion
Thanks to this article, you learned everything about abdominal ultrasound: what kind of procedure it is, how it is performed, how it differs from transvaginal research. It was understood that for a more accurate and truthful result of the diagnosis of abdominal organs, it is important to properly prepare for manipulation.