What are Abdominal Scans?
Abdominal scans are similar to pregnancy scans in that they use ultrasound technology to produce an image showing the structure and blood flow within the abdominal region.
These scans are designed for examination of the internal organs, tissues, blood vessels and structures within the abdomen, allowing doctors to detect any problems that may be present.
Both men and women have access to abdominal scans at Ultrasound Care as it is important for everyone to find peace of mind if they are suffering with any kind of abdominal pain or discomfort.
Importance of Abdominal Scans
The purpose of an abdominal scan is to identify any problems within the main organs, and to help detect causes of abdominal pain, aortic aneurysms, and abdominal growth that could be caused by tumours, cancer, gallstones, kidney stones, liver disease or pyloric stenosis.
During the scan, several major bodily organs are also checked including the gallbladder, kidneys, liver, pancreas, and spleen.
For smokers, it is vital to have abdominal scans after the age of 65 to ensure that your organs are functioning properly, and your body has no further issues like a blood clot due to smoking.
How They Work
At Ultrasound Care, both men’s and women’s scans are conducted in the same way.
Before the scans, the patient must drink only clear fluids (water), they should not eat anything for 6-8 hours beforehand. Any routine medication should be taken as normal. Any piercings in the abdominal region must be removed in advance.
The scan appointments take 30 minutes and are conducted in a similar way to a pregnancy ultrasound scan. Ultrasound does not produce any radiation and so is safe to use.
Patients will lie flat on their backs and a gel substance is applied to the abdomen. A transducer is then used over the area to produce the scan image. This may press slightly but should not be uncomfortable at any point.
Once the scan is complete, a report is compiled and sent to you. You are then able to take this to your GP for further discussion.
GP Recommendations for Abdominal Scans
If you have recently contacted your GP and they have recommended an abdominal scan, this may be to identify the cause of stomach pain or discomfort that has been mentioned by the patient during an appointment.
They may also be recommended by a GP for smokers or ex-smokers.
If your GP suspects a blood clot, enlarged organ, hernia, appendicitis, pancreatitis or any other health conditions within the abdominal region, they may also recommend an abdominal scan to get a clearer picture of what is happening internally and how best to move forward with diagnosis and treatment.
Get in Touch Today
If you are in need of an abdominal scan for any reason, please contact Ultrasound Care today! We have clinics in Birmingham, Bromsgrove, and London.
All staff are trained and qualified in medical scans performed at Ultrasound Care.
