preparation for ultrasound

Ultrasound is a diagnostic test that uses ultrasound to evaluate organs or structures in the body. In ultrasound, equipment called an ultrasound machine is used, which together with an instrument called a transducer, emits and receives echoes to and from the area of interest. The echoes received are converted into images suitable to be evaluated by the doctor and help with diagnoses.

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Previous general recommendations

 

• Do not attend with a companion, if required (patients over 70 years of age, with cognitive disabilities or minors), only one companion is allowed and he must be of legal age. 

• Arrive 20 minutes before the appointment.

• Attend with comfortable clothing, preferably two-piece.

Preparation (before the exam) 

 

Thyroid ultrasound 

• No preparation required.

• Do not wear chains, jewelry or items at neck level

• Bring previous studies carried out (CT, MRI, ultrasound, PET, biopsies).

 

breast ultrasound

• Do not apply deodorants, creams, or lotions on the day of the appointment.

• Bring previous studies carried out (ultrasounds, mammograms, biopsies).

 

Soft tissue ultrasound of the abdominal wall and pelvis 

• No preparation required.

• Bring previous studies carried out (CT, MRI, ultrasound, PET, biopsies).

 

Abdominal soft tissue ultrasound with Doppler analysis 

• No preparation required.

• Bring previous studies carried out (CT, MRI, ultrasound, PET, biopsies).

 

Total abdominal ultrasound (liver, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts, kidneys, spleen, great vessels, pelvis, and flanks)

• Fasting for at least six hours (you can take control medications for underlying diseases)

• Drink 4 to 6 glasses of water two hours before the appointment.

• Not urinating (full bladder).

• Patient with a bladder catheter: please show up two hours in advance to clamp.

• Bring previous studies carried out (CT, MRI, endoscopies, ultrasound, PET, biopsies).

 

Upper abdomen ultrasound (liver, pancreas, bile ducts, kidneys, spleen and great vessels)

• Fast for at least six hours (you can take control medications for basic diseases) 

• Does not require a full bladder.

• Bring previous studies carried out (CT, MRI, ultrasound, endoscopies, PET, biopsies).

 

Ultrasound of kidneys, spleen, aorta or adrenals

• It does not require fasting.

• Drink 4 to 6 glasses of water two hours before the appointment.

• No urination (full bladder). 

• Patient with a bladder catheter: please show up two hours in advance to clamp.

• Bring previous studies carried out (CT, MRI, ultrasound, PET, biopsies).

 

Urinary tract ultrasound (kidneys, bladder and transabdominal prostate)

• It does not require fasting.

• Drink 4 to 6 glasses of water two hours before the appointment.

• Not urinating (full bladder).

• Patient with a bladder catheter: please show up two hours in advance to clamp. 

• Bring previous studies carried out (CT, MRI, ultrasound, PET, biopsies).

 

Transvaginal gynecologic pelvic ultrasound

• Bring previous studies carried out (CT, MRI, ultrasound, PET, biopsies).

• No preparation required.

• If it can be done in this way, the patient has a menstrual period or has recently had sexual intercourse or has abnormal vaginal bleeding. 

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Transabdominal ultrasound of the prostate

• It does not require fasting.

• Drink 4 to 6 glasses of water two hours before the appointment.

• Not urinating (full bladder).

• Patient with a bladder catheter: please show up two hours in advance to clamp.

• Bring previous studies carried out (CT, MRI, ultrasound, PET, biopsies).

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Transrectal prostate ultrasound

• No preparation required.

• Bring previous studies carried out (CT, MRI, ultrasound, PET, biopsies).

• Important: According to the literature and available information, it requires a 6-hour fast, a soft diet one day before and in some institutions they require the application of enemas two hours before the procedure, but in the institution it was established by the radiologists that it does not require any special preparation .

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testicular ultrasound

• No preparation required.

• Bring previous studies carried out (CT, MRI, ultrasound, PET, biopsies).

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Not all patients have the same treatment, for this reason the diseases are not, just receive information from health personnel.