Abdominal ultrasound – an ultrasound examination

Abdominal ultrasound – why is it worth undergoing it?

Abdominal ultrasound is used to assess:

• the liver;
• the gallbladder;
• the biliary tract;
• the pancreas;
• the spleen;
• the kidneys;
• the adrenal glands;
• the bladder;
• the aorta;
• large blood vessels and the retroperitoneal space.

Abdominal ultrasound is also used to monitor the treatment of abdominal cancers and to detect metastases.

During the examination, it is possible to assess the size, position and structure of the abdominal organs and to detect abnormalities, such as malformations.

Abdominal ultrasound – description of the procedure

The ultrasound procedure is based on the phenomenon of reflection of ultrasound waves against the structure of the organs – it is a non-invasive technique and the examination itself is safe and painless.

During the examination, the doctor applies a special gel to the abdomen in order to obtain a good quality image. The application of the gel may cause discomfort (coldness, sticky feeling), which passes once the examination is completed and the gel is wiped off the examined area.

Indications for abdominal ultrasound

You should make an appointment for this examination if you experience:

• increased abdominal circumference (if not related to excessive food intake),
• bothersome, recurrent abdominal pain;
• colicky pain;
• weight loss (if not intentional);
• prolonged constipation, diarrhoea, flatulence, vomiting;
• suspected lithiasis (cholelithiasis or nephrolithiasis);
• yellowish skin;
• absence of bowel movements or urination;
• gastrointestinal or urinary bleeding;
• changes which can be felt upon palpation;
• abdominal trauma.

At Medicover Hospital, the examination is only available for adults, i.e. persons over 18 years of age.

If you would like to make an appointment for abdominal ultrasound for children, click here.

Abdominal ultrasound

• Duration of the examination: 15-20 minutes.
• Abdominal ultrasound is a non-invasive examination. Please note that if the patient does not prepare properly, the doctor will not be able to carry out the ultrasound or the obtained result will not be reliable.

Recommendations to be observed before undergoing abdominal ultrasound

• on the day before the examination: follow a light diet, without vegetables, fruit and dark bread, refrain from drinking carbonated or sweetened beverages (still water can be consumed);

• Espumisan 3 x 2 capsules one day before the examination – the medicine will clear the digestive tract of air which might otherwise be an obstacle to ultrasound;

• 6 hours before the examination: refrain from consuming food;
• refrain from smoking tobacco;
• refrain from chewing gum.

Abdominal ultrasound is intended for patients over 16 years of age.

At Medicover Hospital, the examination is only available for adults, i.e. persons over 18 years of age.

Abdominal ultrasound – results

• The patient is provided with the results of the examination in the form of an impression with the ultrasound image. All documents are printed during the appointment, so the patient receives the original version of the results. The impression is also available online.