Ultrasound
- General
- Vascular
- Colour Doppler
- Obstetric
What is an Ultrasound?
An ultrasound is a medical
imaging technique that uses high frequency sound waves
and their echoes. Sound waves are produced by a transducer
or probe. There are many situations in which ultrasound
are performed: Pregnancy, cardiology (examination of
the heart), urology (measuring blood flow through the
kidneys) and gynaecology.
Colour Doppler Ultrasound
A Doppler Ultrasound is based
on the Doppler Effect. Here, when the object reflecting
the ultrasound wave is moving, it changes the frequency
of the echoes. This creates a higher frequency if it
is moving toward the probe and a lower if it is moving
away from the probe.
Dopplers have been used mostly
to measure the rate of blood flow through the heart and
major arteries. Are they dangerous? There have been no
substantial ill-effects of ultrasound documented.
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FAQ
Q: What is a pelvic ultrasound
scan?
A: An instrument
known as a transducer and a tiny amount of gel
is placed against your lower abdomen, and sound waves
pass through your body.
Q: Is there any preparation
required?
A: Approximately
2 hours before your procedure, please go to the toilet
and empty your bladder. For the next 45 minutes you must
drink at minimum 800mls of water BUT not go to the toilet.
Your bladder should remain full until the ultrasound
has been performed.
Q: How long will this take?
A: A pelvic ultrasound
will take around 30 minutes. An obstetric ultrasound
may take longer. Other ultrasounds vary in time length.
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