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Central Booking Line: 01745 582002
Clinics in St Asaph, North Wales and Stockport, South Manchester
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is ultrasound imaging and how does it work?
- Who performs the examinations?
- What does the equipment look like?
- How should I prepare for the examination?
- What happens during the examination?
- How do I get the results?
- What are the benefits and risks of ultrasound imaging?
- What are the limitations of ultrasound imaging?
What is ultrasound imaging and how does it work?
Ultrasound imaging, also called an ultrasound scan or sonography, is a method of obtaining images from different organs inside the body.
It involves sending very high frequency sound waves via a hand held probe on your skin through the body. These sound waves are reflected off your internal organs. The reflections bounce back to the probe and the computer aprt of the machine creates an image of the organs. Ultrasound images are captured in real time and displayed on a television monitor.
Because different tissues and organs send back different sound waves the highly skilled ultrasound practitioner will be able to interpret the images and report on what they see.
No x-rays or any type of ionising radiation is involved in ultrasound imaging.
Who performs the examinations?
The examination is performed by an ultrasound practitioner.
He or she is an sonographer, radiologist or a cardiac technician experienced in ultrasound. All of our staff are highly qualified and very experienced practitioners who have worked for years in the NHS and the private sector.
What does the equipment look like?
The ultrasound machine may look like a large computer with a television screen.
The equipment consists of a monitoring system and different shape and sizes transducers (probes) for different types of examinations.
The ultrasound image can be seen in black and white on the monitor or in colour if the operator examines blood flow in vessels and organs.
How should I prepare for the examination?
It is preferable to wear a comfortable, loose-fitting two-piece outfit for the examination.
There are no general instructions for all ultrasound examinations. Different examinations require different preparations and we will give you the relevant instructions for your examination when your appointment is made.
Some scans require you starve for 6 hours and some to fill your bladder. The instructions are important and we will make sure that you understand what you have to do before you attend.
What happens during the examination?
An ultrasound examination is a painless procedure and there are no after effects. How the examination is done depends on what scan is required.
Most ultrasound examinations are performed with the sonographer passing the transducer or probe over the area of interest and in contact with the skin. The patient is usually asked to lie on an examination bed and a clear water-soluble warm gel is applied to the skin to help the transducer slide easily across the skin and to get rid of air trapped on the skin which the sound waves cannot pass through.
The ultrasound practitioner then presses the transducer against the skin and moves it to see the area of interest. Images of the area are seen instantaneously on the television monitor.
In the ultrasound examination of the female pelvis, a trans-vaginal approach is the method of choice because it gives superior quality images. However, there are certain situations, including patient´s preference where a trans-vaginal scan may not be appropriate and the sonographer will always discuss what is required and listen to any concerns a patient may have.
The ultrasound practitioner can explain the images displayed on the monitor to you and you may ask questions during the scan.
The practitioner may ask you to take deep breaths in or move into different positions to obtain the best possible images.
How do I get the results?
The ultrasound practitioner who has performed the scan will analyse the images and send a report with the interpretation of the scan to the patient´s referring doctor.
In cases of screening, a letter would be sent to the patient to explain the findings as well as a detailed report to the patient´s doctor.
In many situations, the ultrasound practitioner will be in a position to explain to you the results at the time of examination.
Sometimes it may be necessary to get a second opinion on a scan findings and in these cases we may not be able to give you a report immediately but it will be sent to your doctor as soon as possible.
What are the benefits and risks of ultrasound imaging?
Benefits:
Ultrasound imaging is a painless procedure. It does not use x-rays or any other type of ionising radiation to produce an image. It is non-invasive. It can be used safely during pregnancy.
Ultrasound provides real time imaging, making it a good tool for guiding some invasive procedures such as needle biopsies.
Ultrasound can visualise movement and function and therefore can examine blood vessels and blood flow to different organs.
Risks:
For standard diagnostic ultrasound there are no known harmful effects to humans.
Ultrasound has been used for medical diagnosis for over thirty years, during which time no adverse effects have been observed.
Studies in animals and humans did not show any side effects of the use of diagnostic ultrasound.
For more information about the potential risks of ultrasound visit the The British Medical Ultrasound Society (BMUS) Web site.
What are the limitations of ultrasound imaging?
Ultrasound waves have difficulty penetrating bone and air so organs such as the lungs cannot be scanned. The stomach and bowel are best examined in other ways such as x-rays or by having cameras inserted into them.
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Ultrasound Now Ltd is a registered centre of the Fetal Medicine Foundation (UK).