Abdominal ultrasound
Ultrasound is a simple and very informative procedure that allows you to visually assess the condition of the patient’s internal organs. It makes it possible to evaluate such important characteristics of organs as size, the presence of formations, anatomical structure, etc. The safety of this research method allows its use even in children and pregnant women.
With the help of an ultrasound, practically all systems of human organs are investigated; the abdominal cavity, which contains a large number of important organs, is not left without attention. What can be seen with such a study, how to prepare for it?
Abdominal ultrasound: when is it necessary?
Conduct an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity is necessary in all cases when there is a suspicion on the development of any pathologists. Patients should consult a specialist and recover for a study with the following symptoms:
- Regular heaviness in the stomach, feeling of fullness after eating
- Constant severity in the right hypochondrium, which may pass for a while, or increase after certain stimuli (mainly food)
- Upper abdominal pain
- Sharp pains in the lower abdomen
- The presence of bitterness in the mouth, a change in taste perception
- Increased flatulence, constant bloating
What does the study include?
When conducting an ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity, specialists will evaluate the condition of the gallbladder, its ducts, liver, spleen, pancreas, stomach, intestines, kidneys and adrenal glands, the abdominal aorta and large vessels, lymph nodes and nerve plexuses.
During the study, the specialist will record the size and location of the organs, their internal structure, the presence of any tumors, the presence of free fluid in the abdominal space, etc.
Features of preparation for the procedure
In the study of hollow organs, be it ultrasound or any other research, the leading place is given to the preparation. It is impossible to obtain reliable results of the study, if, for example, in the intestine accumulation of air or gases. These conditions make it difficult for the beam to travel the required distance. For these reasons, the preparation for the study, namely the observance of a particular diet, etc., is extremely important.
Starting to follow a diet should be at least 3 days before the procedure. From the diet should be completely excluded vegetables, which contain large amounts of fiber, dairy products, all legumes, pastries, rye bread, and all carbonated drinks. Sometimes prescribed drugs to improve digestion - "Festal" or "Mezim."
If the patient suffers from flatulence, then you should drink a course of drugs that will help reduce gas formation. With a tendency to constipation, on the eve of the study, you should take a laxative. With persistent constipation and laxatives without results, it is recommended to carry out a cleansing enema.
Factors triggering a distortion of the result
Every action, such as a bad habit, has its effect on the body. Thus, a large number of factors can affect the state of the abdominal organs.
For example, intestinal spasm, which can be a symptom of some diseases, and may be triggered by endoscopic examination, or some bad habits. A large number of gases in the intestines also indicates a violation in its work, but at the same time, it can be triggered by overeating some gas-forming foods or the abuse of carbonated drinks.
For these reasons, before the study it is necessary to tell the specialist about their bad habits, taking medications, and, of course, strictly follow the diet.
What does abdominal ultrasound show?
Thanks to the ultrasound it is quite possible to find out the cause of incomprehensible pain in the abdomen, assess the condition of the liver, conduct an inspection of the gallbladder and its outflows, detect the presence of stones or sand. In addition, the study of the abdominal cavity allows you to identify organic damage to the kidneys, to detect calculi.
The same ultrasound will help establish the fact of ascites in diseases of the liver or peritoneum. In pediatric practice, ultrasound becomes indispensable in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis, when difficulties arise in determining the pathology.
The study allows non-invasive examination of the state of internal organs after injuries and wounds, this method is also used in preparation for surgical interventions. Absolute safety of the procedure allows it to be performed as many times as required by the decision of the diagnosis, control of treatment, etc.
Decoding results
After the study, the patient receives a statement form, which contains the results of the study. For people far from medicine, this information practically carries no informative load - incomprehensible words, numbers, etc. The only available words to understand are “norm”, a list of research bodies.
The doctor who understands the results of the norm, the structure and functioning of the organs will best help in deciphering the results of the study. He will tell about pathology, if there is one, how this state will be corrected.
Ultrasound is a universal research method that allows you to quickly and absolutely painlessly and safely see the picture of internal organs, evaluate their structure, size, etc. The positive characteristics of the method allowed the ultrasound to rise, as a research method, to the rating of the most informative popular. In order for the diagnostic results to be accurate, it is necessary to properly prepare for the procedure, following all the advice and prescriptions of the doctor.