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Preparation for ultrasound of the gastrointestinal tract
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025
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Preparation for ultrasound of the peritoneal space and gastrointestinal tract
- Patient preparation. The patient should not eat or drink for 8 hours prior to the examination. If fluid intake is necessary to prevent dehydration, clean water may be given. If symptoms are acute, perform the examination immediately.
Children, if clinical conditions permit, should abstain from food and fluids for 3-4 hours prior to the examination. If the child is vomiting or hypertrophic pyloric stenosis is suspected, give warm sweet drinks without air bubbles to fill the stomach so that reflux can be detected and the passage of fluid through the pyloric lumen can be observed.
- Patient position. The patient should be supine and can be turned into a prone position if necessary. Sometimes it is useful to examine the patient in an upright position.
Sensor selection. For adults, a 3.5 MHz sensor is used, for children and thin adults, a 5 or 7.5 MHz sensor is used.
Setting the sensitivity level of the device. Begin the examination by placing the transducer centrally on the upper abdomen (under the xiphoid process). Tilt the transducer to the right side until an image of the liver is obtained: adjust the sensitivity to obtain an optimal image.
Start with longitudinal cuts across the entire abdomen; then add transverse and oblique cuts, pressing on the abdomen as needed to displace gases in the intestines.
Sometimes it is necessary to correlate the ultrasound and radiography data, since ultrasound cannot exclude intestinal perforation. It is necessary to perform radiography in a direct projection with the patient in a supine position and in a vertical position (or on all fours).
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