Echography (Ultrasound)

Introduction
You will soon be visiting the Radiology Department of Bronovo Hospital for an echography (or ultrasound) examination. Echography uses sound waves (that can not be heard by the human ear) to make images of the abdomen, chest, neck or blood vessels.

The doctor treating you may already have told you a little about this. This leaflet describes the procedure more in detail. Your particular ultrasound examination may differ slightly from the description below. We recommend that you read the whole leaflet carefully.

Preparation
For an abdominal echography you have to attend in a fasting state and preferably with a full bladder. This means that you must not drink any carbonated liquids after 6pm the day before. On the day of the examination you must not eat anything 3 hours before your appointment. If your examination is scheduled in the early morning you can only have a cup of tea (without milk or sugar). When the ultrasound is of your lower abdomen or pelvis please drink 1-2 glasses of water approximately one hour before the examination and try not to empty your bladder.

The examination
When you arrive in the hospital, report first to the Radiology Department reception desk.

For the examination you will be asked to lie down on the examination table with the relevant body-part exposed. The radiologist will apply a gel and move the ultrasound transducer over the skin. The gel is necessary to conduct the sound waves through the skin. The sound waves are reflected from the body organs back to the transducer. From this information the computer creates images that can be read by the radiologist. During the examination the radiologist may ask you to hold your breath or temporarily change your body position. The gel is removed afterwards. The gel is water-based and easily washed out if it somehow gets on your clothes.

Is the procedure painful?
Echography is not painful, although you might find the sometimes necessary pressure of the transducer uncomfortable.

Length of the procedure
An average echography study takes 5 to 15 minutes, depending on exactly what information your doctor requires.

After the procedure
Afterwards you can return home or to work and you can resume your normal eating and drinking pattern.

Risks
Echography uses ultrasound waves, not X-rays and has been used for medical purposes for several decades. So far no harmful effects have been found.

Results
The radiologist cannot give you the results of the echography immediately. Mostly the results will be send within a few days to the referring doctor. Your doctor will discuss these with you during a follow-up visit. If you do not already have an appointment for a follow-up visit, contact the Outpatients’ Department or your doctor (by phone) to make one. Make sure that the date of this appointment is at least one week after the date of the examination, to allow time for the images to be analysed and reported.

Where do I find the Radiology Department?
The Radiology Department is on the ground floor. From the Central Hall take the left-hand corridor. Then turn right by the lifts (corridor D) and report to the reception desk on your left. The route is also signposted.

Final points
The Radiology Department would like to make sure that your appointment runs smoothly. So please be on time, taking into account some possible extra time to park your car.
If you are unable to attend, please give us at least 24 hours notice (Mon-Fri during working hours). Without a cancellation we have to charge you the legally established no-show fee.

If you would like more information after reading this leaflet, please call the Radiology Department, during office hours, tel.: 070 312 4120.

Edition: May 2009