All you need to know about ultrazvuk abdomena.

Ultrasound machines are sonographic devices that use the sound waves technique to produce images on the screen, much like the ones used by submarines and other ships at sea. Sound waves are transmitted through a transducer (a device that looks like a microphone). First a clear jelly-like gel is applied on to the skin of the abdominal region then the transducer is pressed upon it and moved about to get a clear image of the organs inside. Sometimes the patient is asked to change positions to better enable the radiologist to view the organs inside and determine the cause of illness.

Sound waves traveling inside the body are reflected back on to a computer screen attached to the transducer, these reflected back waves generate an image of the inside working of the body. Ultrazvuk abdomena is performed mainly in conditions when the patient reports of abdominal pain, swelling of any abdominal organ or to check for any stones in the kidneys or gallbladder. The patient is asked to prepare for this test prior to coming to the radiologist. The preparation includes eating a fat-free meal in the evening before and fasting for eight to twelve hours before the ultrazvuk abdomena of the liver, spleen, gall bladder and pancreas.

Ultrazvuk abdomena of the kidneys requires the patient to drink up to four to six glasses of water about an hour before the ultrasound starts so the bladder can fill up. The patient is advised not to eat anything for eight to twelve hours prior to the test to avoid gas build-up in the intestines. If all the organs appear normal on the image screen, it gives a normal result. However, cases in which there is spleen enlargement, kidney stones, gallstones, hydronephrosis, abdominal aortic aneurysms and cholecystitis reveal abnormal results and are referred by the radiologist to a specialist doctor concerned with the abdominal disorders. Doppler ultrasound is another form of ultrazvuk abdomena which is designed to check the speed of the blood flowing through blood vessels like the major arteries and veins in the abdomen, arms, legs and neck.

Blockages in the blood flow, in cases of clot formation, and the narrowing of blood vessels or tumor formation are checked through this ultrasound. Since the ultrasound machines utilize sound waves for their function, there is no danger of the person being exposed to ionizing radiations as is the case with X-rays or CT scans, hence virtually no risk is involved with the ultrazvuk abdomena. A slight discomfort may be experienced by the patient undergoing the ultrasound as the gel is cold and wet in consistency. The radiologist may also have to apply pressure on the abdominal region to get a better image of the organs inside. The patient is often required to wear a gown before the start of the ultrasound and is then asked to lie down on the bed for the procedure to start. The procedure of the ultrazvuk abdomena takes up to thirty minutes.