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Preparation for spleen ultrasound
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Preparation for ultrasound of the spleen
- Patient preparation. The patient should not eat or drink for 8 hours before the examination. If fluid intake is necessary to prevent dehydration, clean water may be given. If symptoms are acute, conduct the examination immediately. Children, if clinical conditions permit, should abstain from eating or drinking for 3 hours before the examination.
For acutely ill patients (e.g. trauma, sudden abdominal pain, fever in the postoperative period), no preliminary preparation is performed.
- Patient position: The patient should first lie on his back and then on his right side.
Apply the gel randomly to the left half of the lower chest, upper abdomen and left side.
The patient must take a deep breath and hold it while the scan is being performed.
- Selecting a sensor. For adults, a 3.5 MHz sector sensor is used, for children and thin adults, a 5 MHz sector sensor is used. It is desirable to use a small sector sensor.
- 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 until an optimal image is obtained.
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