Ultrasound
What is ultrasound
Ultrasound imaging is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. Sound waves are generated to visualize organs, tissues or blood flow inside the body. Ultrasound is also used during pregnancy to check the size, position, number of fetuses and the age of the baby.
Preparations
The preparations for you ultrasound are very important. It is of the utmost importance to the quality of the exam to follow the instructions for your ultrasound completely. You may be asked to fast from midnight to the time of your test in the morning. If your abdominal exam is in the afternoon, then you may eat a fat free breakfast no later than six hours before your scan.
All of the pelvic exams require a full bladder. Empty you bladder one hour prior to the exam. Immediately drink 4 eight oz glasses of water in one sitting. (Do not stretch water consumption throughout the hour) Do not empty your bladder until your exam is finished.
All other exams such as: echocardiography, vascular studies, extremities and small parts do not require any preparation.
A call will be made to you prior to your scheduled appointment informing you of the specific preparation needed.
What is an Obstetrical Ultrasound?
An obstetrical ultrasound scan is a painless procedure, which is usually ordered by your doctor when you are 18-19 weeks pregnant. This test uses sound waves to look at your baby and assess how well it is growing at that time. During the assessment, a sonographer (Ultrasound Technologist) looks at and measures several things, some of which are the baby’s head circumference, abdominal circumference and leg length. They also look at all of the baby’s organs… the brain, the chambers of the heart, the kidneys, the stomach, the face, and the position of the placenta. All this is done on a moving baby who at the time of this assessment is about eight inches long and who weighs about eight ounces. The sonographer needs a high level of concentration to complete this procedure to ensure that all the measurements and assessments are correctly performed. For this reason only one adult is allowed in the examination room with you during the entire scan.
Arrival
The clerk will be registering you for your ultrasound so have your health card ready. You will be instructed where to go to change and what to do after that. Your ultrasound should take approximately 30-60 minutes depending on the type of test ordered. The Dept. has several scanning rooms so do not be concerned if people are called ahead of you. Patients are scanned according to appointment times, not arrival times.
Ultrasound Procedures:
- Abdomen
- Pelvis
- Echocardiograms (cardiac)
- Breast
- Obstetrical
- Prostate
- Thyroid
- Vascular studies
When will my Health Care Provider receive the results?
The results will be faxed directly to whoever ordered your examination. Depending on the time of day or which day of the week you had your examination on, your health care provider should receive the results within two to three days.
Hours of Operation and Location:
Monday to Friday
7:30 am to 4:30 pm
Contact information:
Booking desk is open
Monday to Friday
07:00 to 16:00
613-938-4240 Ext 3318
Fax # 613-938-4084
