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Available at these locations in Alberta:

Grande Prairie

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Abdominal Ultrasound

An abdominal ultrasound examines the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, and kidneys, as well as the larger blood vessels such as the aorta and inferior vena cava; while a pelvic ultrasound assesses the uterus, ovaries, prostate, and bladder. Ultrasound can also be used to examine the thyroid and adjacent tissue in the neck, as well as the testicles and scrotum.

PATIENT INFORMATION AND PREPARATION

Special Instructions

  • Please refrain from smoking prior to the exam.
  • If you’ve had abdominal surgery in the past, including the removal of your kidney, spleen or gallbladder, be sure to let your sonographer know before commencement of the exam
  • Be sure to wear comfortable, lightweight clothes which provide easy access to the skin of the area to be examined
  • Please don’t eat or drink anything except water for at least 6 hours prior to your exam
  • Please arrive 15 minutes in advance
  • Please follow all your practitioner’s instructions and take all prescribed medications as directed

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING YOUR EXAM

  • You will be asked to lie down on a tilt-in-space examination table or bed
  • The sonographer may as that you shift position during the course of the exam, onto your sides or into a seated or standing position, in order for him/her to obtain the clearest sonographic images of the relevant internal organs
  • You will be asked to expose the skin of the area to be scanned
  • A warm, fragrance-free, hypoallergenic ultrasound gel will be applied to the skin of your abdomen
  • The sonographic transducer or probe will be moved over the lubricated surface of the front and sides of your abdomen, in order to gather imagery of the relevant organs
  • You will be asked to perform various breathing techniques in order to aid the image capturing process
  • You may experience a slight pressure while the images are captured
  • The sonographer may or may not invite your radiologist into the scanning room in order to discuss the results of your exam
  • You will now be free to leave

WHEN TO EXPECT THE RESULTS OF YOUR EXAM

Our radiologists will interpret your information and aim to forward the results to your doctor by the end of the next working day.

WHAT YOU’LL PAY FOR THIS PROCEDURE

This Ultrasound exam is covered under the Alberta Health Care Plan.