Ultrasound: Patient Guide
For ultrasounds that require fasting:
Please do not eat or drink for 6-8 hours prior to your ultrasound appointment.
For ultrasounds that require a full bladder:
- Please drink two 500 ml bottles of water ( 1 Liter ) 1 - 2 hours before the appointment time.
- Please do not go to the washroom prior to your examination as full bladder is required.
- If you have any discomfort, please let the front desk staff know and they will advise accordingly.
ABDOMEN ULTRASOUND
- Fat free Dinner the night before.
- No carbonated drinks the day before
- Nothing to eat or drink 7-8 hours before the exam
- Morning time is best time for appointment.
Abdomen ultrasound
Includes: Ultrasound of Liver, Pancreas, Kidneys, Gall Bladder, Spleen, Aorta and IVC
- Requires fasting.
- Morning appointment is best time for abdominal ultrasound.
Pelvic ultrasound
Includes: Ultrasound of Uterus, Ovaries, Urinary bladder and adnexae.
- RRequires a Full Bladder.
MALE OR FEMALE PELVIS, AND EARLY PREGNANCY UPTO 12 WEEKS:
- Drink 1 Litre (Two 500 ml bottles) of clear fluids (Water, Juice, Tea or Coffee), 2 hours before exam, to have a Full Bladder at the time of the exam.
- Can eat normal food before exam.
- DO NOT VOID before the exam.
PREGNANCY AFTER 12 WEEKS:
Includes: Ultrasound of Uterus, Ovaries, Urinary bladder and adnexae.
- Can eat and drink normal diet.
- Moderately full bladder is preferred before the exam.
eFTS / IPS (12 WEEK) ULTRASOUND:
- Please bring all the paperwork from your Doctor at the time of the exam:
- Requisition Form
- eFTS / IPS Form
- Blood work paperwork.
Pregnancy ultrasound includes:
- Early Dating: (Less than 12 weeks) Requires a full bladder
- Nuchal Translucency / eFTS Scan: (12 - 14 weeks) Requires a full bladder. eFTS form needs to be filled up by referring physician and bought at the time of exam. The form will need to be filled up by the Sonographer as well. The blood test needs to be done immediately after, at the appropriate lab, or at least, on the same day. Otherwise the ultrasound exam may need to be repeated.
- OBS (Obstetric) ultrasound: (14 - 28 weeks) Your obstetrician may need you to get an ultrasound done for various reasons. Please note that a full bladder is required for all ultrasounds up to 28 weeks.
- OB-BPP (Obstetric - Biophysical) ultrasound: (28 weeks - term) Usually a 32 week ultrasound is required by obstetricians to check the growth and presentation of the baby. Your bladder need not be full for this scan.
- The ultrasound tech can invite the spouse to see the baby, towards the end of the exam, after all measurements and the technical part of the exam have been completed. Please note that you will need to wear proper personal protective equipment (PPE) that will be provided to you.
- Please note that the staff are not allowed to discuss any findings with the patients or their attendants. We will make the results available to the referring physicians within 24 - 48 hours.
ABDOMEN & PELVIS EXAM:
Requires both fasting and a full bladder.
- Fat free Dinner the night before.
- No carbonated drinks the day before.
- Nothing to eat 7-8 hours before the exam.
- Drink 1 Litre (Two 500 ml bottles) of clear fluids (Water, Juice, Tea or Coffee), 2 hours before exam, to have a Full Bladder at the time of the exam.
- Drink 1 Litre (Two 500 ml bottles) of clear fluids (Water, Juice, Tea or Coffee), 2 hours before exam, to have a Full Bladder at the time of the exam.
- DO NOT VOID before the exam.
Pelvic and Abdomen ultrasound
- Requires both fasting and a full bladder. .
Renal ultrasound
- Requires fasting (but only for 3-4 hours prior to the exam).
Renal and Bladder
- Requires fasting (3-4 hours) and a full bladder.
THYROID / NECK ULTRASOUND:
- No Prep is required.
TESTICLES / SCROTUM, ULTRASOUND:
- No Prep is required.
SHOULDER, KNEE, MSK ULTRASOUND:
- No Prep is required.
HERNIA, ABDOM. WALL HERNIA ULTRASOUND:
- No Prep is required.
Prostate with Transrectal
- Please purchase a Fleet Enema from the pharmacy. Please follow all instructions. Take the fleet enema 3 hours prior to the exam.
- Do not eat after midnight prior to the day of your examination.
- Finish drinking two 500 ml water bottles (1 Liter) 1-2 hour before the exam.
- Do not empty the bladder before the exam.
- Please note laxative (fleet enema) is only needed for prostate with transrectal ultrasound.
- For trans-abdominal prostate ultrasound, only full bladder is required. Laxative is not required.
PROSTATE/ TRANS-RECTAL ULTRASOUND (TRP):
- Please purchase a Fleet Enema from the pharmacy. Please follow all instructions. Take the fleet enema 3 hours prior to the exam.
- Do not eat after midnight prior to the day of your examination.
- Finish drinking two 500 ml water bottles (1 Liter) 1-2 hour before the exam.
- Do not empty the bladder before the exam.
- Please note laxative (fleet enema) is only needed for prostate with transrectal ultrasound.
- For trans-abdominal prostate ultrasound, only full bladder is required. Fleet Enema is not required.
