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abdominal ultrasound
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025
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Where to do an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity and what this type of diagnostics is, let's consider these questions. An abdominal examination can be prescribed to assess the condition of such organs as the liver, kidneys, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen or aorta. Ultrasound is performed to establish the cause of pain and discomfort in the abdomen, determine the size of organs and their condition, and identify various diseases.
Preparation for diagnostics depends on the organ being examined. Thus, before an ultrasound of the spleen, pancreas, liver or gallbladder, it is not recommended to eat food 8-12 hours before the procedure. When examining the kidneys, you need to drink 1-1.5 liters of liquid an hour before the procedure, that is, the bladder should be full. An ultrasound of the aorta is performed on an empty stomach, so you should abstain from food 8-12 hours before the diagnosis. The ultrasound is performed by an ultrasound specialist or a radiologist. The entire procedure takes from 30 to 60 minutes, plus time to process the information received.
Ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity is painless. In the first minutes of diagnostics, a slight cold sensation may appear due to the application of a special gel to the abdomen and a feeling of pressure from the device sensor. If we talk about ultrasound waves, they are not heard or felt by a person. In addition, the entire procedure is absolutely safe. But the quality of the procedure and its results can be affected by such factors as: extreme obesity, mobility during the procedure, a full intestine or the presence of gases in it, open wounds or a bandage in the scanning area.