Ultrasound Information

WHAT IS ULTRASOUND?

Ultrasound is a non-invasive form of medical imaging that uses sound waves to produce images of structures within the body. Vascular ultrasound is a specialised area of ultrasound that assesses the arteries and veins within the body (excluding the heart). Ultrasound is painless and does not use radiation. Ultrasounds are carried out by highly trained healthcare workers called sonographers.  

PREPARATION

Most ultrasounds performed in the Vascular Diagnostic Centre do not require preparation prior to the scan however some scans (abdominal scans) require a fast (remain nil by mouth) from midnight. You will be advised on the need to fast at the time of making your appointment.

For some scans to be performed, you may be required to remove some clothing as ultrasound cannot be performed through clothing.       

DURING THE ULTRASOUND

For the ultrasound, you will be lying on an ultrasound couch with your head slightly elevated. You may be required to remove some clothing, jewellery etc to enable access to the region being investigated. During the scan, the sonographer will place gel and a transducer against your skin and glide the transducer along the region being assessed. The ultrasound may take as little as 10 minutes and some up to an hour.

RESULTS

At the end of the scan, a report will be generated with the findings of the scan. This report will be sent to your referring doctor by close of business the day of your scan. Your referring doctor will discuss these results with you. The sonographer is not permitted to discuss these results with you.