Abdominal ultrasound

Key points below

Your child’s abdominal ultrasound is scheduled for (date) ___________ at (time)_______________ in the Radiology (Imaging) Department.

Please stop at a Welcome desk for a badge and directions.

What is an ultrasound?

An ultrasound is not an x-ray. It uses sound waves to make images of body parts so the doctor can look at the soft body parts. You cannot hear or feel the sound waves.

What do I need to know before the ultrasound?

Your child will not be able to eat or drink before the test. Please follow these directions.

 0 to 6 months old: nothing to eat or drink for 3 hours before the ultrasound.
 7 months to 3 years old: nothing to eat or drink for 4 hours before the ultrasound.
 4 to 6 years old: nothing to eat or drink for 6 hours before the ultrasound.
 7 years and older: nothing to eat or drink for 8 hours before the ultrasound.

Following these directions is very important to making sure the ultrasound works best.

What happens during the ultrasound?

Your child will go to a special room for the test. They will lie on a comfortable bed. The room may be a little dark so the person doing the test can see pictures clearly on a TV screen. A small amount of lotion will be put on your child’s skin over the area to be checked.
A transducer, which looks like a microphone, is attached to the ultrasound machine. The person doing the exam will gently move the transducer over your child’s skin. It does not hurt. The machine makes pictures the doctor can look at later. It is important that your child holds very still for these pictures. When the exam is done, the lotion will be wiped off. If you have questions at any time during the exam, be sure to ask.

Results

A doctor who has special training in reading ultrasounds, called a radiologist, will look at the pictures at the end of the test. The radiologist may ask you some questions before you leave the hospital. A report of the ultrasound is sent to your child’s doctor within 24 hours. Your child’s doctor will talk to you about the results.

For other health and wellness information, check out this resource: https://kidshealth.org/ChildrensWi/en/parents

ALERT

Call your child’s doctor, nurse, or clinic if you have any questions or concerns or if your child has special health care needs that were not covered by this information.