What is an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Ultrasound Screening?
An abdominal aortic aneurysm ultrasound screening is a safe and painless diagnostic procedure that uses sound waves to produce real-time images of the aorta within your abdomen in order to detect abnormalities such as aneurysms.
How does an Abdominal Ultrasound Work?
Small pulses of inaudible, high-frequency sound waves are passed through the abdomen from a special handheld device known as the transducer, which is pressed against the skin. The sound waves bounce off the internal anatomical structures including the abdominal aorta and are captured by a sensitive receiver in the transducer. It is possible to measure the size, shape, and consistency of the abdominal aorta, based on the variations in the pitch and direction of the returning sound waves.
Preparation for an Abdominal Aortic Ultrasound
You will be given specific instructions, depending on your condition.
- To evaluate the abdominal aorta, you need to avoid eating for 8-12 hours prior to the procedure.
- Wear loose-fitting clothing as you need to uncover your abdomen for the procedure.
Abdominal Aortic Ultrasound Procedure
The procedure for an abdominal ultrasound involves the following basic steps:
- You will lie on your back on an examination table.
- A water-based gel will be applied to the skin over your abdomen to prevent the formation of air pockets between your skin and the handheld transducer that could block the sound waves.
- The hand-held transducer is placed over the skin on your abdomen and moved back and forth to obtain the desired images, which can be viewed in real time on a monitor.
- You will feel no discomfort during the procedure.
- When the imaging process is complete, the gel will be wiped off your skin.
- The entire procedure is usually completed in half an hour.
What happens after an Abdominal Ultrasound?
You can return to your routine activities after the procedure. A radiologist or trained doctor will analyze the images and send the report to your doctor, who will share the results with you.
Risks of an Abdominal Ultrasound
There are no known harmful effects from a standard diagnostic abdominal ultrasound procedure.
Benefits of Abdominal Ultrasound
- Painless and non-invasive procedure
- Does not involve the use of radiation
- Produces clearer images of soft tissues compared to X-rays
