Ultrasound

I’m having an abdominal ultrasound

This scan examines the abdominal cavity (the area below the diaphragm and above the hips bones) and checks for any abnormalities.

• What do I need to do to prepare? You should cease eating and drinking four to six hours before your scan, but oral medications can be taken with a small amount of water. If you are diabetic, you may have one piece of dry toast and one glass of juice before a morning exam – if your scan is in the afternoon then you may have a light, low- or no-fat diet
• Duration of exam: Approximately 60 to 90 minutes
• Post-procedural care: None – you may resume normal activity

I’m having an abdomen and pelvic (or kidney and bladder) ultrasound

This scan examines the abdominal and pelvic cavities and checks for any abnormalities.

• What do I need to do to prepare? You should cease eating four to six hours before your scan and stop voiding and drinking two hours before the exam; Oral medications can be taken with a small amount of water; If you are diabetic, you may have one piece of dry toast and one glass of juice before a morning exam – if your scan is in the afternoon then you may have a light, low- or no-fat diet
• Duration of exam: Approximately 60 to 90 minutes
• Post-procedural care: None – you may resume normal activity

I’m having a general ultrasound

This procedure may be used to scan the arm, shoulder, wrist, hand, leg, knee, foot, chest, thyroid (non biopsy), testes (scrotal) or penis.

I’m having a (male) pelvis ultrasound

This scan demonstrates abnormalities of the male pelvic cavity (the region below the hip bones and above the symphysis pubis).

• What do I need to do to prepare? You should cease drinking and voiding for two hours before your scan, but oral medications can be taken with a small amount of water
• Duration of exam: Approximately 60 to 90 minutes
• Post-procedural care: None – you may resume normal activity

I’m having an obstetrical nuchall transulucency ultrasound

This ultrasound exam evaluates the gravid uterus between 11 weeks  to 13 (+6d) weeks gestation. It is specifically intended to evaluate the fetus with a crown rump length between 45 mm to 84 mm.

• What do I need to do to prepare? While there are no dietary restrictions, please cease voiding for one hour before your scan
• Duration of exam: Approximately 30 to 45 minutes
• Post-procedural care: None – you may resume normal activity

I’m having an obstetrical, first trimester ultrasound

This scan assesses gestational age, fetal number and viability up to 13 weeks of gestation.

• What do I need to do to prepare? While there are no dietary restrictions, please cease voiding for one hour before your scan
• Duration of exam: Approximately 30 to 45 minutes
• Post-procedural care: None – you may resume normal activity

I’m having an obstetrical second trimester anatomical survey

This ultrasound exam evaluates the gravid uterus between 13 and 27 weeks gestation by assessing fetal morphology, placenta amniotic fluid volume and estimating gestational age.

• What do I need to do to prepare? While there are no dietary restrictions, please cease voiding for one hour before your scan
• Duration of exam: Approximately one hour
• Post-procedural care: None – you may resume normal activity

I’m having a (non-pregnant) pelvic ultrasound

This scan examines the structures and organs in both the male and female pelvic cavities.

• What do I need to do to prepare? Cease drinking and voiding for two hours before your scan; If you are post-menopausal and do not have periods, your exam can be done at any time. If you are pre-menopausal (having periods) or are post-menopausal on sequential hormone replacement (you have regular period-like bleeding), your exam should be done between day 6 and day 10 of your menstrual cycle
• Duration of exam: Approximately one hour
• Post-procedural care: None – you may resume normal activity

I’m having a transrectal prostate or rectal wall ultrasound (without biopsy)

This scan detects disorders in the male prostate gland and surrounding tissue; it is also used to further examine tumours detected in the rectal walls.

• What do I need to do to prepare? Purchase a fleet enema in advance at the hospital or your local pharmacy and self administer at home two to four hours before your appointment
• Duration of exam: Approximately 30 to 45 minutes 
• Post-procedural care: None – you may resume normal activity

I’m having a vascular ultrasound

A vascular ultrasound is a noninvasive ultrasound method (also called a duplex study) used to examine the circulation in the blood vessels of the body. Vascular ultrasound can be used to evaluate arteries or veins in nearly any part of the body, including blood vessels in the neck, abdomen, arms and legs.