In physics, the word ultrasound refers to a sound with a frequency that cannot be heard by humans. Ultrasound/ Sonography imaging, therefore, uses sound waves to provide pictures inside a body so as to diagnose the cause of pain, infection or swelling in the internal organs. It can also be used to examine the condition of a fetus in pregnant women as well as the brains and hips of infants. Primarily, this technology can also be used to guide health practitioners during biopsies, diagnose heart conditions, and assess damages after a heart attack (Hamdi, Boughariou, Guedri, & Boussofara, 2016). Today, doctors are using ultrasound in the Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma scans, hemoperitoneum, and pericardial tamponade, which is fluid buildup in the heart’s sac. Sonography has also been used to evaluate gallstones and cholecystitis, which is the inflation of the gallbladder. During a diagnostic procedure, the ultrasound is usually between two to eighteen megahertz. It is important to note that high frequencies are readily absorbed by the body, thus giving better quality pictures while lower frequencies penetrate deeper although images are not clear. Ultrasound is an effective medical technology as it offers accurate results and it is safe.
A small device known as an ultrasound probe is used to give off high-frequency sound waves, and the procedure takes between 15-45 minutes. The ultrasound scans are conducted in the radiology department and should always be done by a sonographer or a radiologist. There are three types of scans depending on which part of the body needs checking. Firstly, there is the external ultrasound scan whereby the radiologist moves the probe over the skin so as to provide pictures on the monitor. A lubricating cream is applied the patient’s skin so as to enable the handheld probe to be applied easily and ensure incessant contact between an individual’s skin and the probe. The external scan is mostly used to examine the heart, kidney, tummy, pelvis, muscles, joints, and unborn babies. Secondly, there is the internal ultrasound where the radiologist inserts the probe inside the patient's organs such as ovaries, womb or prostate gland. During this procedure, the radiologist may ask individuals to either lie on the back or side with knees drawn towards the chest so as they can insert the probe into the vagina. A small probe that is not more than the size of a finger is gently and slowly passed through the rectum or vagina so as to transmit images on the monitor. Lastly, there is the endoscopic sonography where the probe is attached to a long, thin, and flexible tube and passed further into the patient’s body. Essentially, this is usually through the mouth so as to examine organs such as the gullet or stomach (Preiswerk, Toews, Hoge, Chiou, & Madore, 2015). During an endoscopic scan, a patient is asked to lie on their side as the probe is passed. A radiologist is supposed to give their patients a sedative and anesthetic spray so as to keep calm during the procedure.
Before an ultrasound scan, a patient may be advised not to go to the toilet until the scan is completed, especially when it’s a pelvic or pregnancy scan. A patient may also be asked to avoid eating for several hours before the procedure, especially in cases of the liver and other digestive system scans (Preiswerk et al., 2015). In most cases, after an ultrasound scan, the practitioner will advise the patient to stay in the hospital if a sedative was used. An individual is advised not to eat, drive, drink or do regular duties straight away. A patient's results are provided later after analyses.
References
Hamdi, M., Boughariou, S., Guedri, S., & Boussofara, M. (2016). Evaluation of ultrasound-guided peripheral venous catheterization by young residents. Anesthesia & Analgesia, 123(3S_Suppl), 91.
Preiswerk, F., Toews, M., Hoge, W. S., Chiou, J. Y. G., & Madore, B. (2015). Hybrid ultrasound and MRI acquisitions for high-speed imaging of respiratory organ motion. In international conference on medical image computing and computer-assisted intervention (pp. 315-322). Springer International Publishing.
