Preparation for Ultrasound

Preparation for Ultrasound (Ultrasonography)

Preparation for Liver Ultrasound Elastography

• hunger 3-4 hours
• in case of significant bloating (flatulence, distension), take Espumizan 40 mg – 2 capsules 3 times a day the day before the examination and 2 capsules on the day of the examination

How to Properly Prepare for an Abdominal Ultrasound

Doctor’s instructions on how to prepare for an ultrasound of the liver and pancreas, stomach with spleen, and gallbladder are identical:

• Follow a diet excluding fatty and gas-producing foods for three days before the examination;
• Refrain from eating and drinking eight hours before the ultrasound
• Take only doctor-approved medications
• Refrain from chewing gum and smoking on the day of the examination.

What can and cannot be eaten before an abdominal ultrasound?

Diet before an abdominal ultrasound allows foods that promote normal digestion: beef, chicken breast, white turkey meat, river fish, steamed or stewed vegetables, boiled eggs.

When preparing for an abdominal ultrasound, you can eat other dishes: soups, rice porridge cooked in water, boiled potatoes, etc. The main thing is that the foods in your diet do not cause a feeling of heaviness, bloating, intestinal disorders, or other problems.

It is recommended to maintain a healthy drinking regimen—at least 1.5 liters of water per day, excluding tea and coffee. Preparation for an abdominal ultrasound examination begins 3 days prior.

What should not be eaten before an abdominal ultrasound

Gases produced by certain products interfere with ultrasound waves penetrating the area under study and seriously impair the view, distorting the projection of organs on the screen and images.

Exclude the following products:

• milk and any dairy products (soft cheese, cottage cheese, ice cream, etc.)
• Carbonated drinks
• alcohol;
• legumes
• cabbage, radish, turnip
• pasta and flour products
• all grains except rice
• fresh apples, pears, grapes;
• products containing artificial sweeteners

Preparation for an abdominal ultrasound includes the mandatory exclusion of foods from the diet that provoke an individual reaction—fermentation in the stomach, gas.

Is it possible to eat before an abdominal ultrasound

Eating before the examination is allowed no later than 8 hours prior. If the diagnosis is scheduled for 6:00 PM, you need to eat by 10:00 AM. Usually, the examination is conducted in the morning, so breakfast will be possible only after the ultrasound. Fish and meat are not suitable as dishes for dinner or breakfast before the ultrasound.

Many patients are interested in whether they can drink coffee before an abdominal ultrasound. Unfortunately, you will have to do without your morning cup of coffee on the day of the examination. Tea, juice, and other colored drinks are also not allowed.

Is it possible to drink before an abdominal ultrasound?

The answer to the question of whether you can drink water before an abdominal ultrasound is negative. Complete abstinence from food and any liquids, including tea, coffee, and water, is a necessary measure. The stomach must be empty; otherwise, there is a chance of distorting the image obtained with the ultrasound sensor.

The last intake of pure water is allowed 2 hours before the examination. To obtain the most objective data on the functioning of the gallbladder and liver, it is advisable to refrain from drinking before the ultrasound for a longer period: 8 hours.

How to Prepare for an Abdominal Ultrasound for Adults: Approved Medications

A few days before the examination, you can start taking enzyme preparations that aid in comfortable digestion, such as “Creon” or “Mezim.” If there are issues with increased gas formation, carminative agents like “Espumizan” are taken.

The day before the procedure, you need to take an adsorbent—Polysorb or another suitable medication. Bowel cleansing before the ultrasound is also important. If necessary, you should have an enema or take a mild laxative—Duphalac or its equivalent.

Any medications you take during preparation for an ultrasound and on the day of the examination should be coordinated with your healthcare provider.

Preparation for Ultrasound with Test Meal

Such a gallbladder examination requires dietary restrictions for the preceding three days, similar to an abdominal ultrasound.

You need to bring food with you. The procedure is performed twice: the first time on an empty stomach, the second approximately half an hour later. For a trial breakfast, sour cream, yogurt, or cream with a fat content of up to 20%, and 2 egg yolks, either boiled or raw, are allowed.

Preparation for Abdominal Ultrasound for Women and Men

Preparation for an abdominal ultrasound in men and women is the same.

Exception to the rules — pregnant women. Recommendations on how to prepare for an abdominal ultrasound for a woman expecting a child exclude the use of an enema for bowel emptying. In case of constipation, only mild herbal laxatives approved by a gynecologist can be taken.

Unscheduled or emergency ultrasound

In the case of unscheduled or emergency ultrasound examinations, it is permissible to conduct the examination without prior preparation. However, the patient should be aware that some parameters cannot be determined by the doctor due to physiological reasons (for example, the volume and wall thickness of the gallbladder cannot be accurately assessed if food was consumed less than 5 hours before the examination).

What else do you need to know

It is not advisable to perform an abdominal ultrasound after an EGD due to impaired visualization.

Preparation for Pelvic Ultrasound in Women

Preparation for a pelvic ultrasound procedure includes general aspects common to all types of research, and specific ones:

• following a specific diet regimen for two days
• to prevent bloating, take Espumizan for 2-3 days before the examination in the dosage prescribed by your doctor
• drinking water immediately before an ultrasound (only for abdominal);
• quitting smoking and alcohol
• bowel cleansing for transrectal examination

Is it possible to eat before a pelvic ultrasound

Before an ultrasound of the uterus and appendages, it is advisable not to eat and to conduct the examination on an empty stomach. If it is conducted during the day, the last meal should be 3-4 hours before the ultrasound.

What should not be eaten before a pelvic ultrasound

Diet before pelvic ultrasound for 2–3 days prior should consist of foods that are easily digestible, do not cause heaviness or gas. This list includes:

To prevent bloating, take Espumizan 2-3 days before the examination in the dosage prescribed by your doctor.

How much water to drink before a pelvic ultrasound?

Before a transabdominal ultrasound, you need to drink about 1 liter of fluid and avoid going to the bathroom. Ultrasound waves do not pass through areas filled with air, which complicates diagnosis, so the bladder should be full, and the intestines should be free of gas.

During a transvaginal ultrasound, the bladder does not need to be filled.

If you are unsure about the type of examination you will undergo and whether you need to drink before a pelvic ultrasound, consult your doctor in advance.

On which day of the menstrual cycle should a pelvic ultrasound be done

The day of the cycle depends on the purpose of the study:

• 5–7 day of the cycle — scheduled ultrasound to assess the uterus and appendages, detect diseases
• 3 times throughout the cycle — 8-10/15-16/23-24 days for dynamic observation of follicle development and maturation (determination of folliculogenesis)
• 5–10 day, 16–20 — if fibroid is suspected
• from the 25th to the 28th day of the cycle, if the cycle is 28–30 days respectively — for endometriosis

If there is a cycle disruption, ultrasound can be performed regardless of the specific period. Any day is suitable for assessing the condition of organs after surgery or abortion.

Is it possible to have an ultrasound during menstruation

During menstruation, an ultrasound will be less informative because blood and clots obstruct the view of the uterine cavity and make it difficult to assess the condition and thickness of the endometrium.

Is it possible to have a gynecological ultrasound before menstruation

Not recommended. In most cases, the examination is more informative in the first half of the cycle.

Ultrasound examination before menstruation is indicated if endometriosis is suspected. During this period, the inner layer of the uterine walls is the thickest, making endometrial tissues more visible.

Preparation for Pelvic Ultrasound for Girls

Preparation for children is the same as for adults. The difference is that the examination is conducted only transabdominally—the doctor moves the sensor over the lower abdomen. For teenage girls who have started menstruating, the procedure is performed on the 5th–7th day of the menstrual cycle with a full bladder. It is necessary to drink 0.5–1 liter of fluid 2 hours prior.

How to Prepare for a Pelvic Ultrasound for Men

The pelvic organs in men are located close to each other, so an inflammatory process that begins in one organ quickly spreads to others. The examination is conducted using an abdominal or transrectal method. Additionally, a Doppler study of the nearby vessels may be required.

Regarding the diet to follow for three days before the procedure, it involves abstaining from fatty foods and those that cause gas. Smoking and alcohol consumption should be avoided

The examination is conducted on an empty stomach with a full bladder. If a transrectal examination is scheduled, you need to take bowel-cleansing medications the day before and perform an enema 2-3 hours prior.

How often can an ultrasound be done?

Undergoing examinations is permissible as many times as prescribed by the doctor. There are no contraindications to the study. Ultrasound radiation poses no danger to the body.