Ultrasound
Abdominal Ultrasound
Amniocentesis Ultrasound
Biophysical Profile Ultrasound
Kidney Ultrasound
Pelvic/Transvaginal Ultrasound
Sonohysterography
Breast Ultrasound
Abdominal Wall Ultrasound
Ultrasound
Offered at Baptist, Doctors, Homestead and South Miami Hospitals, and all Baptist Outpatient Centers and Medical Plazas.
What Is It?
Your physician has ordered an ultrasound (also known as a sonogram). This is a test that uses sound waves beyond the range of human hearing. The waves detect soft tissues (like the pelvic organs, fetus, gallbladder, liver, pancreas, kidneys and stomach), rather than hard tissues (like bone). The sound waves send an echo or message back to the computer, which is sent it to a monitor much like a television.
Preparations and procedures differ for each type of ultrasound. Consult your doctor for the appropriate preparations you should take before your examination.
What are the general procedures for an ultrasound?
You will be asked to change into a gown and lie on a bed in a dimly lit room. The technologist will apply a warm gel onto the area of your body that is being examined and move a smooth wand-like instrument (called a transducer) over your skin where the gel was placed. This instrument produces an image of the inside of your body onto a video screen. While sound waves are used in ultrasound, this is a completely painless exam.
To provide a variety of images, the technologist may ask you to move in different positions and briefly hold your breath. Several pictures will be taken for the radiologist review.
Preparation*
*Only for the pelvic exam do you have to drink clear liquids prior to the exam.
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Abdominal Ultrasound
Offered at Baptist, South Miami, Doctors and Homestead Hospitals, and all Baptist Medical Plazas.
What Is It?
Your physician has ordered an ultrasound (also known as a sonogram). This is a test that uses sound waves beyond the range of human hearing. The waves detect soft tissues (like the pelvic organs, fetus, gallbladder, liver, pancreas, kidneys and stomach), rather than hard tissues (like bone). The sound waves send an echo or message back to the computer, which is sent it to a monitor much like a television.
What are the general procedures for an ultrasound?
You will be asked to change into a gown and lie on a bed in a dimly lit room. The technologist will apply a warm gel onto the area of your body that is being examined and move a smooth wand-like instrument (called a transducer) over your skin where the gel was placed. This instrument produces an image of the inside of your body onto a video screen. While sound waves are used in ultrasound, this is a completely painless exam.
To provide a variety of images, the technologist may ask you to move in different positions and briefly hold your breath. Several pictures will be taken for the radiologist review. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight
Preparation
| If you are… |
|
do not eat or drink (nothing by mouth) for… |
| 0-6 weeks pregnant |
|
4 hours prior to the test |
| 6-36 weeks pregnant |
|
6 hours prior to the test |
| 36+ weeks pregnant |
|
8 hours prior to the test |
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Amniocentesis Ultrasound
Offered at Baptist Hospital.
What Is It?
Your physician has ordered an ultrasound (also known as a sonogram). This is a test that uses sound waves beyond the range of human hearing. The waves detect soft tissues (like the pelvic organs, fetus, gallbladder, liver, pancreas, kidneys and stomach), rather than hard tissues (like bone). The sound waves send an echo or message back to the computer, which is sent it to a monitor much like a television.
What are the general procedures for an ultrasound?
You will be asked to change into a gown and lie on a bed in a dimly lit room. The technologist will apply a warm gel onto the area of your body that is being examined and move a smooth wand-like instrument (called a transducer) over your skin where the gel was placed. This instrument produces an image of the inside of your body onto a video screen. While sound waves are used in ultrasound, this is a completely painless exam.
To provide a variety of images, the technologist may ask you to move in different positions and briefly hold your breath. Several pictures will be taken for the radiologist review.
Preparation
Drink 32 ounces of clear liquids (four large glasses of water) one hour prior to the exam. If your exam is scheduled for 3 p.m., you should finish drinking at 2 p.m. – even if you are at home at this time.
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Biophysical Profile Ultrasound
Offered at Baptist, Baptist Children's, Homestead and South Miami Hospitals, and Medical Plazas at Coral Gables, Doral, Miami Lakes, Palmetto Bay and Tamiami Trail.
What Is It?
Your physician has ordered an ultrasound (also known as a sonogram). This is a test that uses sound waves beyond the range of human hearing. The waves detect soft tissues (like the pelvic organs, fetus, gallbladder, liver, pancreas, kidneys and stomach), rather than hard tissues (like bone). The sound waves send an echo or message back to the computer, which is sent it to a monitor much like a television.
What are the general procedures for an ultrasound?
You will be asked to change into a gown and lie on a bed in a dimly lit room. The technologist will apply a warm gel onto the area of your body that is being examined and move a smooth wand-like instrument (called a transducer) over your skin where the gel was placed. This instrument produces an image of the inside of your body onto a video screen. While sound waves are used in ultrasound, this is a completely painless exam.
To provide a variety of images, the technologist may ask you to move in different positions and briefly hold your breath. Several pictures will be taken for the radiologist review.
Preparation
| If you are… |
|
Drink… |
| 0-16 weeks pregnant |
|
32 ounces of clear liquids (four large glasses) one hour before the test |
| 17-28 weeks pregnant |
|
8 ounces of clear liquids one hour before the test |
| 29+ weeks pregnant |
|
Drink normally, but do not empty your bladder for one hour before the test |
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Kidney Ultrasound
What Is It?
Your physician has ordered an ultrasound (also known as a sonogram). This is a test that uses sound waves beyond the range of human hearing. The waves detect soft tissues (like the pelvic organs, fetus, gallbladder, liver, pancreas, kidneys and stomach), rather than hard tissues (like bone). The sound waves send an echo or message back to the computer, which is sent it to a monitor much like a television.
What are the general procedures for an ultrasound?
You will be asked to change into a gown and lie on a bed in a dimly lit room. The technologist will apply a warm gel onto the area of your body that is being examined and move a smooth wand-like instrument (called a transducer) over your skin where the gel was placed. This instrument produces an image of the inside of your body onto a video screen. While sound waves are used in ultrasound, this is a completely painless exam.
To provide a variety of images, the technologist may ask you to move in different positions and briefly hold your breath. Several pictures will be taken for the radiologist review.
Preparation
Adults
Offered at Baptist, Doctors, Homestead and South Miami Hospitals, and all Medical Plazas.
If your doctor tells you this is a test for renal (kidney) stenosis, you must not eat or drink anything from midnight the night before the test. If you are having an ultrasound with Doppler, you must not eat or drink anything 6-8 hours prior to the test, and you must take Mylacon (an anti-gas medication) one hour before the test. (Mylacon can be found at any pharmacy, including Eckerd and Walgreens.)
Children
Offered at Baptist Children's Hospital only.
Follow the above directions, except the dosage of Mylacon may be less according to age and weight. Please check with your doctor.
| If child is… |
|
Drink (one hour prior to the exam)… |
| < 5 years old |
|
12-16 ounces of water |
| 6-10 years old |
|
20-24 ounces of water |
| 11-14 years old |
|
24-32 ounces of water |
| 15 + years old |
|
32 ounces of water |
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Pelvic/Transvaginal Ultrasound
Offered at Baptist Children's and South Miami Hospitals and all Baptist Outpatient and Medical Plazas.
Adults
Eat as usual prior to the test. One hour before the test, you will be asked to drink 32 ounces (four large glasses) of clear liquids so that your bladder is full before the test.
Specific procedures for pelvic ultrasound
You will lie on a bed in a dimly lit room. The technologist will apply a warm gel onto the area of your body that is being examined and move a smooth wand-like instrument (called a transducer) over your skin where the gel was placed. This instrument produces an image of the inside of your body onto a video screen. While sound waves are used in ultrasound, this is a completely painless exam.
Specific procedures for transvaginal ultrasound
You will lie on a bed in a dimly lit room. Folded linen will be placed under your pelvis. A sheet will be draped over you for privacy. You may bend your knees for comfort. A transducer (a long, thin, wand-like instrument) is covered with a condom, and gel is applied to the outside. You will be asked to place the transducer in your vaginal canal. This is similar to inserting a tampon. The transducer is then maneuvered to obtain the pictures needed for the radiologist's review.
Are transvaginal ultrasounds performed on children?
Transvaginal ultrasounds are not performed on children or women who are still virgins.
What is the difference between a pelvic ultrasound and a transvaginal ultrasound?
They are similar in the sense that we are taking pictures of the uterus and ovaries, except that the transvaginal exam allows the radiologist to see the uterus and ovaries a little more clearly. Both parts of the exams are important in evaluating the pelvis, and ideally should be performed together.
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Sonohysterography
Offered at South Miami and Doctors Hospitals, and Baptist Outpatient Center.
Your physician has ordered a sonohysterogram. The purpose of this exam is to determine why a woman experiences bleeding or bleeding between menstrual cycles.
What are the general procedures for a sonohysterogram?
You will lie down in a dimly lit room. You will place your feet in stirrups and move all the way down to the end of the exam table. A sheet will be placed over you for your privacy. The technologist will first perform a transvaginal exam (see above for details). The technologist will take the needed pictures for the radiologist. After the radiologist reviews the pictures, he or she will come in and speak with you to explain the procedure and answer any questions you may have. The radiologist then inserts a speculum (as in a Pap smear). A thin catheter is inserted into the cervix. Through this catheter the radiologist will insert a small amount of saline (water-like substance) into the endometrium (the lining you shed with your menstrual cycles). The saline will aid in separating the two walls of the endometrium, to show if you may have a polyp or fibroid that could be the cause of the bleeding. The transvaginal probe is again inserted through the vaginal canal and additional pictures are taken of the endometrium for documentation for the radiologist to review. The transvaginal probe is then removed. The radiologist will then remove the catheter and speculum. You may experience some mild cramping during the exam and possible mild bleeding after the exam.
Specific preparations for the sonohysteroghram*
Have a blood pregnancy test four days before the exam. Do not engage in sexual intercourse from the start of the menstrual cycle until after the exam. (Exam must be scheduled no later than 10 days from the first day of cycle.) Drink 32 ounces of clear liquids prior to the exam.
*Patient cannot be actively bleeding.
Patient must bring a list of their medications (names and dosages of all medications) For All Non-Menopausal Patients (50 years and younger):
1) Must bring proof of results of urine pregnancy test within 4 days of exam.
** Must have pregnancy test even if patient had a tubal ligation.
2) No sexual intercourse from the start of menstruation until after exam.
3) Exam must be scheduled no later than 10 days from first day of cycle.
4) Patient will need to sign a consent form that they are not pregnant.
5) A Transvaginal ultrasound is performed with the exam.
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Breast Ultrasound
Offered at all Baptist Outpatient Centers and Medical Plazas.
There is no special preparation for this exam. Please keep in mind that if you are 35 years or older, you should have a mammogram before the breast ultrasound. Please be sure to schedule both exams if your doctor feels you need a breast ultrasound. (See mammogram preparation - screening or diagnostic.)
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Abdominal Wall Ultrasound
Offered at Baptist, Doctors, Homestead and South Miami Hospitals.
There is no special preparation for this exam. This exam is to detect a defect in the abdominal wall known as a hernia.
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- The equipment used for your procedure requires a very cold environment. Please bring a sweater.
- Please leave all valuables at home.
- If you have any questions about these instructions or have any other concerns, contact your doctor immediately.
Disclaimer: These instructions are general guidelines. If your physician gives you more detailed directions, follow his/her advice.