Routine ultrasound examination during pregnancy: a - DiVA Portal
Ultrasound During Pregnancy - St. Joseph Hospital During Preg… · Ultrasound During Pregnancy...
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· ...........................................................................................••••.••.•••.••.•••••••• ~ This patient education page provides general information concerning the radiologic sci- ences. The ASRT suggests that you consult your physician for specific information concerning your imaging exam and medi- cal condition. Health care pro- fessionals may reproduce these pages for noncommercial educa- tional purposes. Reproduction for other reasons is subject to ASRT approval. For more information, contact the American Society of Radiologic Technologists, 15000 Central Ave. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87123-3909, or visit us online at WUJW. asrt.org. PATIENT PAGE Ultrasound During Pregnancy Ultrasound imaging, also known as sonography, uses inaudible sound waves to produce images of the different structures in your body. During an ultrasound exami- nation, a small, hand-held device called a transducer is pressed against your skin. It generates high-frequency sound waves that pass through your body, sending back echoes as they bounce off organs, vessel walls and tissues. Special computer equipment then converts these echoes into an image. Because ultrasound uses sound waves instead of radiation, it is a safe way to image a pregnant woman and her unborn child. Obstetrical ultrasound is used to assess the baby's well-being and position, diagnose multiple gestations (twins, triplets, ete.) and estimate a delivery date. If the baby is old enough and positioned cor- rectly, its sex also can be determined. However, it's important for you to know that not all abnormalities can be identified by ultrasound. RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY March/April 2008, Vol. 79/No. 4 Ultrasound image of an unborn child. Patient Preparation You should wear a comfortable two-piece outfit on the day of your examination. If you are in the early stages of pregnancy, you might be asked to drink several glasses of water before the procedure because sound waves travel more easily through the fluid in your bladder. You also might be advised to avoid drinking carbonated beverages before the examination because the air bubbles can interfere with the image. Before the exam begins, a sonographer will explain the procedure to you, ask questions about your health, ask why your physician requested the exam and answer any questions you have. A sonographer is a skilled medical professional who has received specialized education in the areas of anatomy, patient care, imaging tech- niques and ultrasound procedures. During the Examination Total examination time is usually around 30 minutes. You will be asked to lie on your back or side on the examination table and expose the lower part of your abdomen. Next, the sonographer will apply an odor- less, water-soluble gel to your skin on the area being imaged. The gel makes it easier for sound waves to travel through your body. The gel is sticky,but it wipes off easily at the end of the exam. After the gel is applied, the sonographer will move the transducer over your abdo- men. As the transducer sends out sound waves and receives echoes, they are relayed to a computer and displayed as a real-time picture on a screen that looks like a televi- sion monitor. The sonographer can view the images during the procedure, and often you will be able to see the images as well. Selected pictures can be saved on paper, film, videotape or in a computerized format to be reviewed by your physician. DUling the procedure, you will feel pressure from the transducer as it moves over your skin. At times, the sonographer may need to press your abdomen firmly to get a better image of your baby. In some instances, the pressure may feel uncomfortable, especially if your bladder is full, but the discomfort is temporary. The sonographer might ask you to change your position or hold your breath for a few seconds so that he or she can obtain certain images. When the exam is complete, your ultra- sound scans will be given to a radiologist, a physician who specializes in the diagnostic interpretation of medical images. Other phy- sicians who might interpret ultrasound exams include obstetricians and gynecologists. Postexamination Information After your ultrasound images have been reviewed by a radiologist, your personal physician will receive a report of the find- ings. Your physician then will advise you of the results and discuss what further proce- dures, if any, are needed. There are no known side effects or aftereffects from ultrasound imaging, and it is not necessary to take any special precau- tions following your examination. • 383
Transcript of Ultrasound During Pregnancy - St. Joseph Hospital During Preg… · Ultrasound During Pregnancy...
· ...........................................................................................••••.••.•••.••.•••••••• ~
This patient education pageprovides general informationconcerning the radiologic sci-ences. The ASRT suggests thatyou consult your physician forspecific information concerningyour imaging exam and medi-cal condition. Health carepro-fessionals may reproduce thesepages for noncommercial educa-tional purposes. Reproductionfor other reasons is subject toASRT approval.
For more information,contact the American Societyof Radiologic Technologists,15000 Central Ave. SE,Albuquerque, NM87123-3909,or visit us online atWUJW. asrt.org.
PATIENT PAGE
Ultrasound During PregnancyUltrasound imaging, also known as
sonography, uses inaudible sound waves toproduce images of the different structuresin your body. During an ultrasound exami-nation, a small, hand-held device called atransducer is pressed against your skin. Itgenerates high-frequency sound waves thatpass through your body, sending back echoesas they bounce off organs, vessel walls andtissues. Special computer equipment thenconverts these echoes into an image.
Because ultrasound uses sound wavesinstead of radiation, it is a safe way to imagea pregnant woman and her unborn child.Obstetrical ultrasound is used to assess the
baby's well-beingand position,diagnose multiplegestations (twins,triplets, ete.) andestimate a deliverydate. If the babyis old enough andpositioned cor-rectly, its sex alsocan be determined.However, it'simportant for youto know that not allabnormalities canbe identified byultrasound.
RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY March/April 2008, Vol. 79/No. 4
Ultrasound image of an unborn child.
Patient PreparationYou should wear a comfortable two-piece
outfit on the day of your examination. Ifyou are in the early stages of pregnancy, youmight be asked to drink several glasses ofwater before the procedure because soundwaves travel more easily through the fluid inyour bladder. You also might be advised toavoid drinking carbonated beverages beforethe examination because the air bubblescan interfere with the image.
Before the exam begins, a sonographerwill explain the procedure to you, askquestions about your health, ask why yourphysician requested the exam and answerany questions you have. A sonographeris a skilled medical professional who hasreceived specialized education in the areasof anatomy, patient care, imaging tech-niques and ultrasound procedures.
During the ExaminationTotal examination time is usually around
30 minutes. You will be asked to lie on yourback or side on the examination table andexpose the lower part of your abdomen.Next, the sonographer will apply an odor-less, water-soluble gel to your skin on thearea being imaged. The gel makes it easierfor sound waves to travel through yourbody. The gel is sticky,but it wipes off easilyat the end of the exam.
After the gel is applied, the sonographerwill move the transducer over your abdo-men. As the transducer sends out soundwaves and receives echoes, they are relayedto a computer and displayed as a real-timepicture on a screen that looks like a televi-sion monitor. The sonographer can viewthe images during the procedure, and oftenyou will be able to see the images as well.Selected pictures can be saved on paper,film, videotape or in a computerized formatto be reviewed by your physician.
DUling the procedure, you will feelpressure from the transducer as it movesover your skin. At times, the sonographermay need to press your abdomen firmlyto get a better image of your baby. Insome instances, the pressure may feeluncomfortable, especially if your bladderis full, but the discomfort is temporary.The sonographer might ask you to changeyour position or hold your breath for afew seconds so that he or she can obtaincertain images.
When the exam is complete, your ultra-sound scans willbe given to a radiologist, aphysician who specializesin the diagnosticinterpretation of medical images. Other phy-sicianswho might interpret ultrasound examsinclude obstetricians and gynecologists.
Postexamination InformationAfter your ultrasound images have been
reviewed by a radiologist, your personalphysician will receive a report of the find-ings. Your physician then will advise you ofthe results and discuss what further proce-dures, if any, are needed.
There are no known side effects oraftereffects from ultrasound imaging, and itis not necessary to take any special precau-tions following your examination. •
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