Things you need to know about an ultrasound scan!

When you hear the word "ultrasound," does the image of a pregnant mother looking at her baby in front of a doctor come to mind? True, that's how we often see it. But did you know that this ultrasound scan is a very important medical test that is used for many more things? Let's talk about it all in simple terms today.

Simply put, what is this ultrasound?

Ultrasound is a special medical test used to look at the organs and soft tissues inside our bodies. It is sometimes called sonography. It involves sending high-frequency sound waves, which are inaudible to our ears, into the body and viewing the resulting images on a computer screen. This is similar to how bats use sound to fly at night.

What is the difference between an X-ray and an ultrasound?

Although both of these are tests that look inside the body, the way they work is different.

• X-ray: This uses a small amount of radiation. It is very good for looking at solid objects like bones.
• Ultrasound: This uses sound waves. Therefore, there is no exposure to radiation. This is very suitable for looking at soft tissue organs like the kidneys, liver, and uterus.

How does this scan work?

Imagine, this is a very simple procedure. During this test, a medical professional (usually a sonographer) places a small device on your skin and moves it around. This device is called a transducer.

1. First, a gel is applied to the surface of your skin. This eliminates the air between the transducer and the skin, making it easier for the sound waves to penetrate the body.

2. Then, the transducer sends sound waves that our ears cannot hear into the body.

3. These sound waves hit the organs inside and reflect back (just like an echo).

4. These returning echoes are captured by the transducer itself, and the data is sent to the computer.

5. The computer uses that data to create a live image of the relevant organ on the screen.

A radiologist or your doctor will diagnose the disease by looking at these images.

What are ultrasounds used for?

Ultrasound scans are not limited to pregnancy. They are used for a variety of things.

Other special types of ultrasound

With the advancement of technology, there are now more specialized types of ultrasound.

• Doppler Ultrasound: This can look at the flow, speed, and direction of blood in our blood vessels. This is very important for detecting things like blood clots.
• 3D/4D Ultrasound: While a regular scan produces a flat (2D) image, this one produces a three-dimensional (3D) image. 4D means that you can see the 3D image in real-time. These are used to clearly see things like the baby's face during pregnancy.
• Echocardiogram: This is an ultrasound test used specifically to look at the function of the heart.

What happens before and after an ultrasound scan?

Preparing for this scan is very easy.

Before the scan

The doctor will give you specific instructions depending on the type of scan you have.

• If you are having a scan of the abdomen (belly), you may be asked to fast for a few hours .
• If you are having a pelvic scan (e.g. uterus, bladder), you may be asked to drink a few glasses of water and fill your bladder well . This is because a full bladder allows other organs to be seen more clearly.
• Wear comfortable clothing that can be easily removed.

During the scan

This is a painless test that usually takes between 30 minutes and 1 hour . While you lie on a bed, a gel is applied to the area and a transducer is moved over the surface of the skin. Sometimes a special transducer may need to be inserted through the vagina (`Transvaginal ultrasound`) or through the rectum (`Transrectal ultrasound`). This allows for clearer images. Your doctor will explain this to you in advance.

After the scan

Once the test is over, you can go home as usual. Unless you have been given anesthesia, there is no restriction on you driving, eating, or drinking.

The time it takes to get the results will vary depending on the type of scan you had. For a pregnancy scan, you may get the results right away. For other diagnostic scans, it may take a day or two for a radiologist to review the images and send a report to your doctor.

Is this safe? What are the benefits?

Yes, ultrasound is a very safe test. As far as is currently known, it has no harmful side effects when used correctly.

The main advantages of this are:

• No pain: No need for needles or cutting.
• Non-radioactive: It is safe for pregnant mothers and even young children because it does not expose them to radiation like X-rays or CT scans.
• Better visualization of soft tissues: Soft tissue problems that cannot be seen on an X-ray can be clearly seen.
• Low cost and easy to perform: It is less expensive compared to other types of scans, and most hospitals in Sri Lanka have this facility.