A diagnostic ultrasound or medical sonography uses high-frequency sound waves to produce body images of the structures within the body. It is often used in multiple clinical settings, including obstetrics, gynaecology, cancer detection and cardiology. Also, it has emerged as a useful method to examine the inner structures of the body in an emergency room.
An ultrasound is far safer than x-rays, which makes it a preferred clinical examination technique during pregnancy. It allows the doctor to observe certain structures within the body without using radiation.
- Ultrasound in obstetrics and gynaecology
Ultrasound is commonly used in obstetrics and gynaecology to measure the developments of the foetus during the pregnancy. The doctor can check the size of the foetus, check the position of the placenta, determine if there is ample amniotic fluid in the uterus and see if the baby is in the normal head-down position with an ultrasound scan. The doctor can also decide the due date of the baby with the help of an ultrasound. And, in a life-threatening situation like ectopic pregnancy, an ultrasound exam is a lifesaver, as the doctor can take corrective surgery.
An ultrasound during pregnancy is helpful for the doctor to check the position of the placenta. This technique is even abused to detect the sex of the unborn foetus.
Few examples of such ultrasounds are GE LogiQ P5, LogiQ P6, GE LogiQ F6, Voluson S8, Voluson S6.
- Ultrasound in cardiology
For heart patients, ultrasound allows the cardiologist to see the inside of the heart, identify abnormal structures or functions and measures the blood flow through the heart and major blood vessels.
Ultrasound scanners which can be used for cardiology like GE LogiQ E, LogiQ V2, Vivid T8, Philips HD 15.
- Ultrasound in urology
An ultrasound exam will help detect kidney stones, the health of kidneys and help in the early detection of prostate cancer.
Ultrasound machines which can be used for urology examination are GE logiQ F8, LogiQ P9, Voluson P6, GE LogiQ S7, LogiQ V3.
How to prepare for an ultrasound?
For the most accurate results, it is important to prepare in advance for an ultrasound. Depending on what ultrasound you are going for, your doctor will advise you if you can have food or not.
- Like, for an abdominal ultrasound, you should eat a light dinner 12 hours before the exam. You must not eat or drink anything prior to the exam. If you have to take medicine you should have it with very little water.
- Before a pelvic ultrasound, you need to have lots of fluid or liquid ( 4 glasses of fluid) an hour before the exam.
- Before a pregnancy ultrasound, you need to drink 4 glasses of liquid an hour prior to the exam and you must not empty your bladder before the exam. For a kidney ultrasound, you have to follow the same procedure.
- In ultrasound-guided biopsy preparations, you should not take any aspirin or aspirin products, such as ibuprofen at least 5 days before having the procedure.
What happens during an ultrasound?
During an ultrasound, the trained professional will apply gel on the body part which has to be examined. The gel prevents the formation of air pockets, which can block the sound waves that create images.
The professional or sonographer presses a small, hand-held device (transducer) on the skin and moves it to capture images. The transducer sends sound waves into your body and collects the ones that bounce back and sends them to a computer.
Sometimes the ultrasound is inside your body. For such ultrasounds, the sonographer will attach a probe to the transducer which is inserted into the natural openings of the body.
Are ultrasounds safe?
Since ultrasound is energy at times, patients have a concern if the ultrasound is safe for the unborn child. All such doubts are not substantiated by any research studies which makes it the safest procedure for examining the unborn baby.
PrimedeQ offers buying and selling of new, used and refurbished sonography machines from brands like GE, Siemens, Mindray , Samsung, Aloka. Also we can support with repair and supply of parts as boards , hard disk, transducers etc for any ultrasound scanner.
