An abdominal ultrasound is a study that should be done prophylactically at least every three years (preferably several times a year). This procedure allows you to assess the condition of internal organs, to recognize even minor violations and changes in their structure. Find out why you need preparation for ultrasound of the abdominal cavity and kidneys, and how the ultrasound examination of the peritoneum takes place.
What organs is diagnosed by ultrasound examination of the peritoneum?
Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity allows you to detect violations and changes in the structure of organs, as well as diagnose the presence of excess fluid in the peritoneum. The organs that can be studied through ultrasound of the peritoneal region are:
- kidneys
- bladder;
- liver;
- prostate;
- spleen;
- aorta and other large vessels;
- uterus and appendages;
- bladder;
- pancreas;
- gall bladder.
Ultrasound of the peritoneum: indications for
The indication for this study is any painful symptoms in the peritoneal cavity. The doctor can prescribe this examination if he suspects you have stones in your gall bladder, a disease of the liver, adrenal glands, bile ducts, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, large vessels of the abdominal cavity, pelvic organs, and also the bladder, in women - reproductive organs, and in men, the prostate gland.
Symptoms that should make you perform an ultrasound examination of the internal organs are:
- acute or chronic abdominal pain;
- palpation of formations in the peritoneal cavity;
- change in abdominal circumference;
- vomiting and / or diarrhea accompanying you for a long time;
- bleeding from the intestinal tract or stomach, urinary and genital tract;
- difficulty urinating and defecating;
- body weight loss;
- fever of unknown cause;
- abdominal injury.
Ultrasound of the peritoneum: preparation for the study
If you have a direction for this study, then preparing for an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity and kidneys implies the exclusion of certain products. A few days before the study, it is worth restricting the consumption of foods that provoke excessive gas formation, because they can distort the resulting image on an ultrasound scan. On the day of the study, it is better to come on an empty stomach. If you go for an ultrasound after lunch, eat an easily digestible breakfast.
Do not smoke immediately prior to diagnosis because smoke can distort images. Drink still mineral water or tea (1 liter) an hour or a half before entering the doctor’s office, as a full bladder is required during the study (you should feel urged). Improper preparation for ultrasound of the abdomen and kidneys can lead to distorted results. In this case, the doctor may transfer the study to another day.
Factors affecting ultrasound of the peritoneum
Preparation for ultrasound of the abdominal cavity and kidneys includes the use of laxatives the day before the diagnosis. To make the study believable, doctors recommend cleansing the intestines and getting rid of flatulence with the help of medicines available in pharmacies. Thanks to this, the study is easier.
Preparation for ultrasound of the abdominal cavity and kidneys in adults implies that the patient must fulfill certain conditions so that the image of organs obtained on the monitor screen is readable. If food, liquid and gas accumulate in the gastrointestinal tract, then part of the organs, as a rule, cannot be visualized.
Preparation for ultrasound of the abdominal cavity and kidneys, bladder includes the use of fluid as an acoustic window. It should also be borne in mind that one should drink slowly so as not to swallow too much air, since the space formed by it makes it difficult to read the image from the screen of the device.
Ultrasound of the peritoneum during pregnancy
Preparation for ultrasound of the abdominal cavity and kidneys in pregnant women does not differ from the preparation of the remaining category of patients. The recommendations are accordingly the same. On the eve of the examination, you should not eat raw fruits and vegetables, especially legumes. Avoid heavy meals. Eat a light dinner in small portions. Do not eat anything 6 hours before the study. If performed in the morning, it is better to come on an empty stomach. In the case when the study time falls on or after lunch time, you can make a light snack.
Ultrasound of the peritoneal cavity in children
Preparation for ultrasound of the abdominal cavity and kidneys in children, as a rule, depends on the age of the small patient. For children under 3 years of age, special preparation for the diagnosis is not required. If during the study it becomes necessary to feed the baby, make sure that there is a bottle of still water at hand.
To examine the age category of children from 3 to 10 years old, the following conditions must be observed:
- if possible, do not urinate before the test;
- do not give the child food for several hours before the ultrasound;
- the day before the study and on the day of the procedure, you can give the child a capsule of a drug having the effect of removing intestinal gases.
Children over 10 years of age on the day before the study:
- Avoid foods that cause excessive amounts of gas, such as sodas, fresh vegetables and fruits, bran, oatmeal, cream, or fresh bread.
- In patients with a tendency to flatulence, it is necessary to apply a maximum of 3 times, after eating, 2 capsules of an agent that reduces gas formation.
On the day of the study, you must:
- to come to an empty stomach, at least six hours before the study do not eat anything;
- do not chew gum;
- a few hours before the procedure, you need to drink 3 cups of still water to fill the bladder with liquid.
How is the study conducted?
As mentioned above, a very important factor for conducting a qualitative diagnosis is the preparation for ultrasound of the abdominal cavity and kidneys. The procedure is as follows:
Upon entering the ultrasound diagnostic room, the patient undresses, exposes his stomach and lays on the couch, located next to the ultrasound machine. Sometimes during the study, there is also the need to change position (from back to side), since the kidneys are better visualized from a certain angle. Then the doctor covers the skin and head of the sensor with a conductive gel, which eliminates the reflection of ultrasound waves from the surface of the peritoneum.
During the study, the patient should listen to the doctor’s commands, which, as a rule, concern the depth of diaphragmatic breathing. An ultrasound can last from 5 minutes to an hour - depending on the diagnosed organ.
What does the result of the study include?
The description of each study should contain: the date, name, surname and age of the patient, the name of the equipment used for the study, and then the results of the diagnosis and conclusions.
The description of the results of the study gives information about all the organs of the peritoneal cavity (liver, gall bladder and bile ducts, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, large vessels, bladder). Ultrasound examination always evaluates each organ, and in aggregate, a comprehensive assessment of all internal organs as a whole should be compiled.