Us Abdomen And Pelvis

[fruitsalad]

What is the reason for not being able to eat for 6 hours prior to this examination

[Peter Pedant]

ask them !

it may be that you are getting a series where they ask you to drink various stuff - I got it in grapefruit juice - to outline the upper bits.


there was a delay in mine and I had to go on being topped up
if there is food there as well, it gets diluted and may not empty at the time wanted.

[fruitsalad]

PP it takes long enough to get through on the phone at the best of times, without hanging on to ask, thats why I am hoping the knowledgeable ab folks may know

[chelle7272]

I believe it is so they can get clearer images.

[chelle7272]

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ultrasound-scan/pages/introduction.aspx

[woofgang]

sometimes food shows up as opaque lumps on images, also are you having any kind of sedation?

[Sqad]

I have no idea and I can see no valid reason for it.

Just do what they tell you.

[fruitsalad]

No not having sedation woofg thank you for link chelle, and rest of the comments

[mccfluff]

i had an ultrasound two weeks ago, adsomen and pelvic exam, they didn't tell me not to eat, just to drink plenty of water before the abdom exam so i had a full bladder. i'd had lunch maybe 2/3 hours beforehand

[slaney]

The reason for fasting is to ensure there is no food or fluid covering the area that is to be examined, and to reduce bowel gas - ultrasound cannot penetrate this.
Fasting also allows the gall bladder to be seen, as it contracts after eating and may not be seen if the stomach is full.

[Sqad]

slaney

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC183866/

this must be the first "link" that i have ever produced and I am not proud of it.

[fruitsalad]

Thanks for link Sqad be proud be very very proud ...lol

[Sqad]

fruitsalad...LOL

[stewey]

Sqad, the study referred to in that link appears to have been a very sound one.

[slaney]

Very well done sqad - it will get easier with time:)
Most radiologists unfortunately don't agree...

[Sqad]

stewey...I would say..." Ultrasound"....get it?..........Ultrasound.

[Sqad]

slaney.....LOL......how did i guess that would be the answer?

[stewey]

Sqad, I was thinking that if I used the term "ultra" in my response it might have made it a little enigmatic.

[Sqad]

stewey....indeed!