Abdominal ultrasound Cracow

Abdominal ultrasound (ultrasonography, abdominal ultrasound) is a basic, non-invasive imaging method that uses high-frequency sound waves to assess organs located in the abdomen such as the liver, bladder and bile ducts, pancreas, spleen, kidneys and adrenal glands. Thanks to ultrasound, it is possible to obtain an image of anatomical structures lying under the surface of the skin and to recognize possible abnormalities in their structure or functioning.

Abdominal ultrasound is performed in the city of Krakow Prokocim.

An ultrasound examination usually takes 15-20 minutes. The patient lies down on a couch, exposing the abdominal cavity. Then, a gel is applied to the skin of the abdomen to facilitate the penetration of ultrasound. The doctor applies the head of the ultrasound machine to the following areas of the abdomen, observing the images obtained on the monitor. During the examination, the patient may need to change position or hold their breath to visualize individual organs. Once the abdominal ultrasound is complete, the gel is removed and the doctor discusses the test result with the patient.

Before a planned abdominal ultrasound, there are several essential preparatory steps that will help you get precise and accurate results.

• If your test is scheduled for the morning hour, the last meal allowed should be an easily digestible dinner the day before.
• If the test takes place in the afternoon or evening, you should remain fasting for at least 6 hours.
• It is important to come to the examination with a full bladder. We recommend drinking 3 to 5 glasses of water one hour before the test and refraining from urinating (it is acceptable to drink a delicate tea).
• In order to minimize the risk of possible darkening of the image by intestinal gas, we suggest that the day before the test, over-the-counter preparations containing simethicone should be taken (it reduces the surface tension at the interface between the liquid and gas phases in the gastrointestinal tract).
• Please take your medical records from previous examinations with you – this is an important source of information for the doctor performing the examination.

Abdominal ultrasound is a completely non-invasive and painless examination. The patient’s only discomfort may be related to the pressure of the head of the device on the skin of the abdomen, but this sensation is not painful and disappears immediately after the examination. However, it is important to remember to properly prepare for the test, as intestinal bloating may cause discomfort when the transducer presses it.

• newborns and infants should remain fasting for about 1-2 hours before the test;
• older children up to 10 years of age do not require any special preparation;
• children over 10 years of age should be on an empty stomach 6 hours before the ultrasound, the day before they should follow a low-residue diet.

Before the examination, the parent should inform the doctor about the medications taken by the child and any medications taken by the child. allergies to gels or cosmetics. It is necessary for the child to remain calm and trust the staff performing the ultrasound.

Typical indications include: abdominal pain of various nature and location, flatulence and digestive disorders, biliary tract and gallbladder diseases, pancreatic diseases, liver abnormalities, urinary tract diseases, enlarged abdominal lymph nodes, tumors of unclear etiology, abdominal injuries. Ultrasound can also be used to monitor the treatment of tumours of abdominal organs.

There are no strict recommendations as to the frequency of routine abdominal ultrasound. Usually, it is recommended to carry them out when specific symptoms of the abdominal organs occur. However, it is worth performing such a prophylactic examination once every 1-2 years, especially after the age of 40. This will allow for early detection of possible irregularities.

A standard abdominal ultrasound does not allow for a detailed assessment of the intestines and stomach. This method mainly highlights the so-called parenchymal organs (liver, kidneys) and bladder. However, advanced disease processes affecting the gastrointestinal tract, such as inflammation or cancer, can cause changes visible on ultrasound. Then the patient is referred for further diagnostics within the gastrointestinal tract (gastroscopy, colonoscopy).