You can use ultrasound to examine your kidneys to detect signs of inflammation, malignancy, and kidney failure. This article explains what kidney ultrasound is, what it can detect, and what to do before and after treatment. You can use ultrasound to examine your kidneys to detect signs of inflammation, malignancy, and kidney failure.
This article explains what kidney ultrasound is, what it can detect, and what to do before and after treatment. What is Kidney Ultrasound?
Kidney ultrasound is a non-invasive method of obtaining both right and left images. Ultrasound technology is a test that uses sound. Unlike X-ray, it does not involve the use of radiation. Instead, it uses sound waves that are invisible to the human ear.
When high-pitched sounds affect your body, they create an image of your kidneys. Your doctor uses these images to determine the size, shape, location, and even blood flow of your kidneys.
At this time kidney ultrasound, children, pregnant women, and people with color allergies do not have to worry about exposure to radiation or contrast. What is the purpose of kidney ultrasound?
• Examine the kidneys, ureters and bladder to determine their size, position and shape.
• Check for kidney cysts, tumors, abscesses, obstructions, fluid retention and infections.
• Check for kidney and ureteral stones or kidney stones.
• Assists in needle insertion to obtain tissue samples from kidney, cyst fluid or tube implantation
• Identify the renal artery and venous blood flow in the kidney.
• Examine the transplanted kidney Your doctor may have other reasons for expecting a kidney ultrasound.
How should I prepare for a kidney ultrasound? Before your ultrasound, your healthcare professional will walk you through detailed instructions and answer any questions you may have. You may want to:
• Drink at least 24 ounces of water
• keep your bowels under control
• Wear a hospital gown or something more casual.
If you need to go to the bathroom before the ultrasound, you may need to keep drinking water to keep your bowels full while you wait.
To facilitate the transmission of sound waves, professionals will apply gel to your skin. Gel will leave your clothes smelly no matter how careful you are.
• Your doctor may advise you to make some dietary changes over time.
• Leave jewelry and other valuables at home.
• You probably won't be asleep, since ultrasound usually doesn't require a massage.
• Most ultrasounds last at least 30 minutes.
If your doctor or other health professional gives you other instructions, be sure to follow them. What happens on the day of my kidney ultrasound?
You can eat and drink normally on the day of your ultrasound unless your doctor specifically tells you to do something different before the procedure. One hour before the test, you will be required to drink 30 ounces of water and you cannot go to the bathroom until you finish.
Your ultrasound exam will be performed by licensed and well-trained technologists and certified radiologists. What happens during a kidney ultrasound?
• To prepare for surgery, remove clothing and all valuables. You will be given a hospital gown to change into.
• In the examination area, you will lie on your stomach with your legs stretched out in front of you.
• The transducer must be fixed to the skin and gel. This improves the transducer-skin contact and therefore the propagation of sound waves in the body.
• Waves are sent into the body through a transducer. An image of the kidney and other internal organs can be created by capturing these waves and analyzing the data they provide.
• For future reference, ultrasound images will be stored digitally. Your radiologist can take pictures of your bladder before and after you urinate to get a complete picture of how it's working.
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