There are situations when a doctor prescribes an abdominal ultrasound for diagnosis. Many patients have not even heard such a definition. Therefore, a logical question arises: what does abdominal ultrasound mean? This is a research method by which the doctor receives accurate information about the organs of the retroperitoneal space, the abdominal cavity, excretory system and kidneys.
If a woman is examined, then gynecological organs are also evaluated, and in men, the prostate gland. Such a diagnosis requires some preparation, when it is performed, no unpleasant sensations arise, and the result can be found immediately after the procedure. So what does abdominal ultrasound show and how is it done? Let's try to figure this out.
The essence of abdominal research
Ultrasound of the abdominal region allows you to diagnose pathologies of the abdominal cavity and pelvic organs using ultrasound. These waves at different speeds begin to propagate in media of different densities. At this time, a picture appears on the monitor of the device, which displays dense patches of echogenic inclusions of light color.
Abdominal ultrasound allows you to determine the boundaries of the body and its echogenicity reveals a pathology. Moreover, such a diagnosis is indispensable in many cases, as it allows you to very accurately show the state of organs in the abdominal cavity, as a result of which the correct diagnosis is made.
What can be detected by abdominal testing?
If an abdominal ultrasound is prescribed, what organs are examined and what pathological processes are determined in them?
- liver - detect hepatitis, cysts, cirrhosis, abscesses, tumors, as well as fatty degeneration of this organ;
- gall bladder - determine the size of the stones and their number inside the bladder or in its bile ducts, and also identify the abnormal development of the organ itself, recognize cholecystitis and empyema;
- pancreas - determine the presence and size of stones inside the ducts, abscesses, inflammation, various types of tumors, necrosis and developmental abnormalities;
- abdominal aorta - recognize aneurysms, abnormal branching or abnormalities;
- spleen - identify injuries, hemorrhages, as well as changes in its size.
If the patient is properly prepared, then you can see not only the stomach, but also the initial part of the duodenum.
What are the symptoms of an abdominal test?
The doctor directs the patient to an abdominal ultrasound in the following cases:
- when the patient complains of acute and frequent pain in the right side, in the area of the ribs that occur paroxysmally;
- if the pain is girdle;
- when the patient complains of a bitter taste in the mouth;
- if your stomach hurts for a long time;
- with problems with the prostate;
- if the patient has a feeling of heaviness and discomfort in the right side;
- with problems with the female genital organs.
Preparation for abdominal examination
If the patient has previously undergone the procedure of irrigoscopy or gastrography, then the patient must warn the doctor about this, since in these cases barium is used. This is very important, since particles of this substance can still be in the intestine, leading to a distortion of the result and complicating the examination process.
It is also quite important in preparing for the study to follow a diet and use medications. These methods are aimed at reducing and eliminating gases in the intestines, which are able to close other organs.
Proper preparation for the study includes the following recommendations:
- Three days before the procedure, you must go on a diet, completely eliminating foods that increase the formation of gases in the body from the diet. These include: beans, dairy products, peas, soda, cabbage, bread, sweets, fresh vegetables and fruits.
- During the same three days, it is necessary to take medicines that eliminate gases from the intestines. Such drugs include activated carbon or Espumisan capsules. On the day of the study, take a double amount of the drug without drinking water.
- In the evening before the procedure, you can take a mild laxative or an enema with a little cool water.
- Abdominal ultrasound is performed only on an empty stomach. No food should be taken 8 hours before the examination, even in minimal quantities. Drinking water is also prohibited 6 hours before the procedure, as it also distorts the results. Diabetics are allowed a small snack.
- If the gall bladder is examined, it is advisable not to smoke before the procedure. Nicotine is able to cause reflex spasms of the body and distort diagnostic data.
- Examination of the pelvis (uterus, prostate, bladder) is carried out with a full bladder. 40 minutes before the procedure, you need to drink 400 ml of liquid.
In case of sharp unbearable pains, the examination should be started immediately, without preliminary preparation.
How do abdominal ultrasounds do?
After going into the office, the patient undresses to the waist, and then lies on the couch. The doctor applies a special gel without color and odor to the abdomen . This is mandatory, as there will be no air gap when moving the sensor.
Carrying out a study of internal organs, depending on the viewing angle, the doctor may ask the patient to strain the press, hold his breath, inhale as deep as possible, or, conversely, exhale completely. The procedure lasts 20 minutes, and the result can be found immediately.
Features of abdominal ultrasound of female organs
If an emergency diagnosis is carried out, the patient should report the date of the last menstruation, but in order to obtain more complete information, it may be necessary to conduct a diagnosis on the following days.
With inflammatory processes in the uterine appendages (adnexitis, salpingoophoritis), the study can be carried out on any day. If expansion of the fallopian tubes is detected, the diagnosis is repeated immediately after menstruation.
To identify endometriosis, ultrasound is prescribed in the second half of the menstrual cycle. If endometrial hyperplasia is diagnosed, the study is repeated immediately after the end of menstruation.
If there is a suspicion of uterine fibroids, an ultrasound scan is performed in the first phase of the cycle.
The study after abortion is carried out immediately after the end of the next menstruation. If pain or bleeding occurs, the diagnosis is carried out on any day.
Conclusion
Thus, abdominal ultrasound is a broad spectrum study. With the help of such a diagnosis, it becomes possible to examine almost all organs of the small pelvis and abdominal cavity. This type of examination is indispensable during pregnancy, as well as in the case when it is impossible to conduct intracavitary ultrasound.