MedCross Imaging - ULTRASOUND

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MedCross Imaging LLC - ULTRASOUND
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SUMMARY

• MedCross Imaging - WHAT IS AN ULTRASOUND?
• MedCross Imaging - WHAT HAPPENS DURING AN
  ULTRASOUND?
• MedCross Imaging - PREPARING FOR AN ULTRASOUND
• MedCross Imaging - RESULTS OF YOUR ULTRASOUND
• MedCross Imaging - VASCULAR SCREENING

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MedCross Imaging - WHAT IS AN ULTRASOUND?
Ultrasound imaging, also called ultrasound
scanning or sonography, involves exposing part of
the body to high-frequency sound waves to produce
pictures of the inside of the body. Ultrasound
exams do not use ionizing radiation (x-ray).
Because ultrasound images are captured in
real-time, they can show the structure and
movement of the bodys internal organs, as well
as blood flowing through blood vessels.
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Ultrasound imaging is usually a painless medical
test that helps physicians diagnose and treat
medical conditions. Conventional ultrasound
displays the images in thin, flat sections of the
body. A Doppler ultrasound study may be part of
an ultrasound examination. Doppler ultrasound is
a special ultrasound technique that evaluates
blood as it flows through a blood vessel,
including the bodys major arteries and veins in
the abdomen, arms, legs and neck.
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MedCross Imaging - WHAT HAPPENS DURING AN
ULTRASOUND?
For most ultrasound exams, the patient is
positioned lying face-up on an examination table
that can be tilted or moved. A clear gel is
applied to the area of the body being studied to
help the transducer make secure contact with the
body and eliminate air pockets between the
transducer and the skin. The sonographer
(ultrasound technologist) then presses the
transducer firmly against the skin and sweeps it
back and forth over the area of interest.
Doppler sonography is performed using the same
transducer. When the examination is complete, the
patient may be asked to dress and wait while the
ultrasound images are reviewed. However, the
sonographer is often able to review the
ultrasound images in real-time as they are
acquired and the patient can be released
immediately. Most ultrasound examinations are
completed within 30 minutes to an hour.
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• General
• Abdominal (includes gall bladder, liver,
  pancreas, spleen, kidney, and aorta)
• Aorta
• Biophysical profile
• Breast Ultrasound
• Hysterosonogram
• Obstetric
• Pelvic with transvaginal
• Renal/bladder
• Testicular
• Thyroid
• Doppler
• Mesenteric, porta-hepatic, and renal arterial
• Venous Doppler of the arms and legs
• Carotid
• Liver transplant, renal transplant
• Transcranial Doppler

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MedCross Imaging - PREPARING FOR AN ULTRASOUND
While many ultrasound procedures require no
preparation for our patients, some do. You should
wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing for your
ultrasound exam. You will need to remove all
clothing and jewelry in the area to be examined.
You may be asked to wear a gown during the
procedure. Other preparation depends on the
type of examination you will have. For some scans
your doctor may instruct you not to eat or drink
for as many as 12 hours before your appointment.
For others you may be asked to drink up to six
glasses of water two hours prior to your exam and
avoid urinating so that your bladder is full when
the scan begins. Each prep helps the
technologist get the best possible images for
review. Please see below for specific
instructions for each test.
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• No prep required
• Breast
• Carotid Doppler
• Cranial
• Testicular
• Transcranial Doppler
• Venous Doppler
• ABIs
• Non-invasive arterial testing of the arms
• Groin Doppler
• Vein mapping
• No eating or drinking (including water) after
  midnight the evening before these tests
• Abdominal
• Aorta
• Liver transplant
• Mesenteric Doppler
• Porta-hepatic Doppler
• Renal arterial Doppler
• Renal transplant

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• Water prep for three (3) exams
• Pelvis or OB ultrasound One and one-half hours
  before the exam, start drinking 32 ounces of
  water (about four cups). Complete drinking water
  about one hour prior to the scheduled exam. Do
  not urinate until after the test.
• Renal ultrasound Drink plenty of clear liquids
  the day before the exam. The day of the exam,
  drink 24 ounces (about three cups) of water.
  Complete drinking water about 30 minutes prior to
  the scheduled exam. Do not urinate until after
  the test.

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MedCross Imaging - RESULTS OF YOUR ULTRASOUND
Images from the ultrasound exam are reviewed and
interpreted by a MedCross radiologist, who will
dictate a report, which is transcribed and sent
to the healthcare provider who ordered the
exam. The sonographer is not able to render a
diagnosis based on what they see in the exam
room. Patients should contact their healthcare
provider for the results of their ultrasound
exam. A CD of the exam can be burned and kept at
the front desk for pickup by the patient or
ordering clinician. Please the front desk for
more information 770-476-3939.
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MedCross Imaging - VASCULAR SCREENING

• Abdominal Aorta Vascular Ultrasound screens for
  Aortic Aneurysm. Aortic aneurysm is a weakening
  in the wall of the aorta, which is the main
  artery in the chest and abdomen. This weakening
  can cause the artery to rupture causing possible
  death. Often there are no signs or symptoms of an
  aortic aneurysm until it ruptures. Risk factors
  for aortic aneurysms are over age 60 family
  history of Aortic Aneurysms smoking high blood
  pressure and more common in men than women.

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• Carotid Vascular Ultrasound looks at the
  arteries in the neck for Carotid Artery Disease.
  Carotid Artery Disease occurs when the carotid
  arteries, the main blood vessels that take blood
  to the brain, develop a buildup of plaque caused
  by hardening of the arteries. When this build up
  becomes severe it can cause a stroke. Risk
  factors for strokes are high blood pressure
  diabetes smoking high cholesterol, family
  history of stroke and irregular heartbeat,
  particularly atrial fibrillation.
• Leg Vascular Ultrasound looks for Peripheral
  Arterial Disease (PAD). PAD is a condition in
  which plaque builds up along the walls of the
  arteries that carry blood to the arms and legs
  affecting blood circulation. People with PAD are
  three times more likely to die of a heart attack
  or stroke than those without PAD. Risk factors
  for PAD are high blood pressure

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