Ultrasound Exams
Your doctor may refer you to an in-house ultrasound performed by Dr Miller, Dr Robinson or Dr Berry. These examinations must be requested by one of our doctors and are to help answer specific questions for your doctor.
Similar to external radiology or imaging examinations done elsewhere, the technician (in this case Dr Miller, Dr Berry or Dr Robertson) will not be discussing the results with you but will send a report back to the referring doctor and if you haven’t already you need to book a follow up appointment with them for the results.
Guidelines for Ultrasound Examinations
ABDOMINAL Examinations
Abdominal imaging includes examinations of the: Abdomen, Gallbladder, Bile ducts, Spleen, Right Upper Quadrant, Pancreas, Liver
- Please refrain from eating or drinking 8 hours before the examination until after the examination is completed.
- A few sips of water and prescription medication are permitted.
AORTA Examinations
- Please have nothing by mouth for 4 hours prior to this examination.
- Non-carbonated and non-caffeinated beverages are acceptable.
- If possible, please take a gentle 10-minute walk prior to your appointment. This will help reduce gas in the stomach making it easier to obtain images.
Procedure will take 30 minutes.
KIDNEY, BLADDER, PELVIS or OBSTETRIC Examinations
Studies of the kidneys, urinary bladder and pelvis require a distended, urine-filled bladder.
It is essential that you:
- Empty your bladder 2.5 hours prior to the appointment time and drink a litre of non-carbonated fluid, preferably water.
- Empty your bladder, 1.5 hours prior to the appointment time.
- At ONE hour before the appointment, DRINK 1 litre of non-carbonated fluid, preferably water.
- Avoid carbonated beverages (these have gas bubbles that remain in the bowel which can interrupt the sound waves that are necessary to make the ultrasound picture).
- Finish drinking the fluid at least 40mins prior to reporting for the appointment.
- PLEASE, DO NOT urinate prior to the examination. We need your bladder full for the examination.
- Take your regular medications.
MISCELLANEOUS or MUSCULOSKELETAL Examination Preparations
Patients scheduled for an ultrasound examination of the breasts, testicles, veins of the leg or arm, neck, thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, abscesses, foreign bodies or musculoskeletal system only are examinations that do not require special preparation.