Abdominal Ultrasound Health Article

Aftercare

In general, no aftercare related to the abdominal ultrasound procedure itself is required. Discomfort during the procedure is minimal.

Risks

Properly performed, ultrasound imaging is virtually without risk or side effects.

Results

As a diagnostic imaging technique, a normal abdominal ultrasound is one that indicates the absence of the suspected condition that prompted the scan. For example, symptoms such as abdominal pain radiating to the back suggest the possibility of, among other things, an abdominal aortic aneurysm. An ultrasound scan that indicates the absence of an aneurysm would rule out this life-threatening condition and point to other, less serious causes.

Because abdominal ultrasound imaging is generally undertaken to confirm a suspected condition, the results of a scan often will confirm the diagnosis, be it kidney stones, cirrhosis of the liver, or an aortic aneurysm. At that point, appropriate medical treatment as prescribed by a patient's physician is in order.

Ultrasound scanning should be performed by a registered and trained ultrasonographer, either a technologist or a physician (radiologist, obstetrician/gynecologist). Ultrasound scanning in the emergency department may be performed by an emergency medicine physician, who should have appropriate training and experience in ultrasonography.

BOOKS

Dendy, P. P., and B. Heaton. Physics for Diagnostic Radiology. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Institute of Physics Publishing, 1999.

Kevles, Bettyann Holtzmann. Naked to the Bone: Medical Imaging in the Twentieth Century. New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers University Press, 1997.

Zaret, Barry L., ed. The Patient's Guide to Medical Tests. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1997.

PERIODICALS

Kuhn, M., R. L. L. Bonnin, M. J. Davey, J. L. Rowland, and S. Langlois. "Emergency Department Ultrasound Scanning for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Accessible, Accurate, Advantageous." Annals of Emergency Medicine 36, No. 3 (September 2000): 219-23.

Sisk, Jennifer. "Ultrasound in the Emergency Department: Toward a Standard of Care." Radiology Today 2, No. 1 (June 4, 2001): 8-10.

ORGANIZATIONS

American College of Radiology. 1891 Preston White Drive, Reston, VA 20191-4397. (800) 227-5463. <http://www.acr.org>.

American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. 14750 Sweitzer Lane, Suite 100, Laurel, MD 20707-5906. (301) 498-4100. <http://www.aium.org>.

American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. 600 Jefferson Plaza, Suite 360, Rockville, MD 20852-1150. (800) 541-9754. <http://www.ardms.org>.

American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT). 15000 Central Avenue SE, Albuquerque, NM 87123-2778. (800) 444-2778. <http://www.asrt.org>.

Radiological Society of North America. 820 Jorie Boulevard, Oak Brook, IL 60523-2251. (630) 571-2670. <http://www.rsna.org>.

Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. 12770 Coit Road, Suite 708, Dallas, TX 75251-1319. (972) 239-7367. <http://www.sdms.org>.

Jennifer E. Sisk, M.A.

Lee A. Shratter, M.D.