No medical test or procedure is ever fun, but it helps to know what to expect and what you can do to make it easier. These are our most common Ultrasound exams, with patient preparation and expectations for each.

Please call our Radiology Department at 304-598-1280 if you have any questions before you arrive. To check in for your procedure, come to the Radiology Registration area off the main lobby of the hospital.
 

Ultrasound Exam	Patient Prep
Ultrasound Abdomen (Gallbladder, aorta, renal arteries, Liver )	Prep for Procedure: The patient should be NPO (nothing by mouth, which includes no eating, drinking and NO Smoking.) for at least 6 hours before the exam. The patient should wear comfortable clothing. The patient should arrive 30 minutes early to register in Registration for this exam. The patient needs to bring the physician written order with him to this appointment. What to expect upon arrival: The patient should plan to arrive at the hospital 30 minutes before his appointment time. The patient will have to lie flat on an exam table for this procedure. A cool gel will be placed on the patient's abdomen by the Ultrasound Technologist. Images will be obtained. The patient for an Abdominal Ultrasound should plan on being at the hospital for approximately 1 hour.
Ultrasound Breast	There is no prep for this examination. What to expect upon arrival: The patient should plan to arrive at the hospital 30 minutes before her appointment time. A cool gel will be applied to the area of interest by the Ultrasound Technologist. Images will be obtained. The patient for a Breast Ultrasound should plan on being at the hospital for approximately 1 1/2 hours.
Ultrasound Carotids	There is no prep for this examination. What to expect upon arrival: The patient should plan to arrive at the hospital 30 minutes before her appointment time. A cool gel will be applied to the neck by the Ultrasound Technologist. Images will be obtained. The patient for a Carotid Ultrasound should plan on being at the hospital for approximately 1 ½ hours.
Ultrasound Chest marking	There is no prep for this examination. What to expect upon arrival: The patient should plan to arrive at the hospital 30 minutes before his appointment time. A cool gel will be applied to the area of interest by the Ultrasound Technologist. Images will be obtained and a mark will be placed on the patient's skin, with the ordering physician or radiologist present in the room during this marking. The patient for a Chest Marking Ultrasound should plan on being at the hospital for approximately 1 hour.
Ultrasound Compression of Pseudoanuerysm	There is no prep for this examination. What to expect upon arrival: The patient needs to bring a list of current medications taken. This medication list should include the name of the medication, dosage, and how often this medication is taken. The patient should plan to arrive at the hospital 30 minutes before his appointment time. A cool gel will be applied to the groin area by the Ultrasound Technologist. Pressure will be applied to the area of interest. Images will be obtained. The patient for Compression Therapy of a Pseudoaneurysm should plan on being at the hospital for approximately 2 hours, with repeat sessions, as ordered by the physician.
Ultrasound Extremity	There is no prep for this examination. What to expect upon arrival: The patient should plan to arrive at the hospital 30 minutes before her appointment time. A cool gel will be applied to the area of interest by the Ultrasound Technologist. Images will be obtained. The patient should plan on being at the hospital for approximately 1 ½ hours.
Ultrasound Kidneys and Bladder	Prep for Procedure: The patient may eat and is encouraged to drink fluids frequently. The patient may void (empty bladder) as necessary. What to expect upon arrival: The patient should plan to arrive at the hospital 30 minutes before his appointment time. A cool gel will be applied to the patient's abdomen by the Ultrasound Technologist. Images will be obtained. The patient should plan on being at the hospital for approximately 1 ½ hours.
Ultrasound Neck/Thyroid	There is no prep for this examination. What to expect upon arrival: The patient should plan to arrive at the hospital 30 minutes before her appointment time. A cool gel will be applied to the neck by the Ultrasound Technologist. Images will be obtained. The patient for a Neck or Thyroid Ultrasound should plan on being at the hospital for approximately 1 ½ hours.
Ultrasound Pelvis	Prep for Procedure: Patient needs to drink 32 ounces of fluid 1 hour before scheduled appointment time and NOT void (keep full bladder). Having a full bladder can be somewhat uncomfortable, so if the patient is experiencing discomfort upon arrival, the patient needs to let the registration person know to hurry the registration process as much as possible and ask the registrar to alert the Ultrasound Technologist of the urgency to get the exam completed quickly. What to expect upon arrival: The patient needs to arrive at the facility 30 minutes before her scheduled appointment time to register. The patient will lie flat on an examination table. The technologist will apply a cool gel to the patient's lower abdomen. Images will be obtained. As soon as all imaging is completed that requires a full bladder, the patient will be allowed to void (empty bladder) in the restroom, which is nearby. Additional imaging will be done, if needed. For female patients, it is sometimes necessary to do trans-vaginal imaging, which involves placing a small probe into the vagina to obtain additional images. The Technologist will explain this exam to the patient prior to completion of the exam. The patient for a Pelvic Ultrasound should plan on being at the hospital for approximately 1 ½ hours.
Ultrasound Prostate	Prep for Procedure: The patient needs to arrive at the facility with a clean colon (lower rectum), which can be obtained by taking suppositories or enemas, as directed by the ordering physician. If the ordering physician did not give the patient "colon cleansing" instructions, the patient needs to call the ordering physician for instructions. What to expect upon arrival: The patient should plan on arriving at the hospital 30 minutes prior to the scheduled appointment time to register. The patient will be placed on an exam table. A small rectal probe will be inserted into the patient and images obtained. The outpatient for a Prostate Ultrasound should plan on being at the hospital for approximately 1 ½ hours. This exam is normally done as an inpatient, in combination with an OR Prostate Biopsy procedure, but these exams are occasionally done as an outpatient without the biopsy procedure as ordered by the physician.
Ultrasound Scrotum	There is no prep for this examination. What to expect upon arrival: The patient should plan to arrive at the hospital 30 minutes before his appointment time. The Technologist will ensure patient privacy. A cool gel will be applied to the scrotal area by the Ultrasound Technologist. Images will be obtained. The patient for a Scrotal Ultrasound should plan on being at the hospital for approximately 1 ½ hours.