Ultrasound uses equipment that produces high frequency soundwaves (undetected to the human ear) from a special ultrasound probe called a transducer. The sound waves are reflected from the human tissue back to the transducer to produce an image which is displayed on the ultrasound machine screen. There are no x-rays involved in ultrasound scanning.
The person performing your ultrasound scan or examination is a specialised health professional called a Sonographer. The sonographer will collect images and information that will help your doctor in managing your health.
Preparation
Preparation for you scan varies depending on the actual body part being scanned. Some scans require you to fast (not to eat or drink) hours before you appointment and others may ask you to drink water so you have a full bladder for the scan. Depending on what scan your Doctor has ordered will ascertain what instructions or preparation you need to follow.
You will be given instruction upon booking your scan, so ensure you have paper and pen handy to take notes.
It is extremely important to follow ALL instructions prior to your appointment. If these instructions are not followed then your appointment may be cancelled and there may be a delay in your treatment. There are only a limited number of appointments available per day.
Procedure
Upon arrival to the imaging department you must first 'check in' at the reception. The sonographer will call your name when he/she is ready to start your scan.
The ultrasound process is completely pain free, although firm pressure may need to be applied in certain areas to provide better visualisation. Ultrasound gel will be placed on your skin to allow a good contact between the probe and your skin. This helps the transmission of sound into and out of the body, ensuring optimal images. The probe is moved around the surface of the skin to examine the underlying tissues.
Sometimes the specialist doctor who will be doing your results needs to be called in to see the live imaging. Please do not panic if this happens, this is to ensure you get the most accurate results possible.
NB: Some examinations require the doctor to attend due to Medicare Laws.
Results
The specialised doctor will carefully analyse your images and make a report to your referring doctor. Results are generally available the same or next business day. If the referring doctor is in the hospital they will be able to access the results and images on the computer. If they are not in the hospital, then the clerks will be able to burn the results and images onto a CD for you to take to the referring doctor.
The clerks will burn the disc when you arrive to collect it. It generally takes 10 full minutes for the disk to burn, ultrasound examinations are very megabyte hungry! Please make sure you have time to spare and are not in a five minute park, as there may be several people lined up for results when you attend. |
