Ultrasonography

The name Ultrasound or ultrasound refers to a procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to see inside the body, placing a transducer or probe on the skin with a contact gel that generates echoes.

Summary

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• 1 Definitions
• 2 Types of Ultrasounds
• 3 Preparation
• 4 Other uses of ultrasound
• 5 Sources

Definitions

• Ultrasound or ultrasound is a procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to see inside the body, placing a transducer or probe on the skin with a contact gel that generates echoes. Ultrasound is a quick, non-disturbing examination in which no radiation is received, nor does it have side effects. Some ultrasound machinesalso incorporate more specific technology to study blood vessels and make calculations based on blood flow. These ultrasounds are known as

Echocardiogram

. Because it uses sound waves instead of radiation , ultrasound is safer than x-rays .

• In the medical field, devices such as fetal Doppler are called ultrasound equipment, which uses ultrasound waves of between 2 to 3 MHz to detect the fetal heart rateinside the womb.

Types of Ultrasounds

• Normal ultrasounds: Abdominal, Urinary System (renal/vesico-prostatic), Neonatal hips, Neck (Thyroid, parotid, submandibular), Scrotal, Mammary, Musculoskeletal (soft parts, joint), Obstetric (pregnancy), Ocular , Pelvic , Penis , Testicular, Transcranial , Transfontanelar or Cerebral of the newborn, Transrectal, Transvaginal.
• Ecografía abdominal: Es un exámen seguro e indoloro en el cual se utilizan ondas sonoras para obtener imágenes del abdomen, es un procedimiento imagenológico utilizado para examinar los órganos internos del abdomen, incluyendo el hígado, la vesícula biliar , el bazo , el páncreas y los riñones . The blood vessels that go to some of these organs can also be evaluated using ultrasound, it is the best exam to detect any type of abdominal pathology. It is the most complete exam that exists after the medical checkup.
• Pelvic ultrasound:This examination is used to primarily explore the uterus, ovaries and bladder. In men, the bladder and prostate. When greater detail of the uterus, ovary or surrounding tissues is necessary, a special study is performed with a special high-resolution transducer that, previously sterilized, is introduced through the vagina. What is the necessary preparation? You can eat normally. It is advisable to have a full bladder, so it is necessary to drink plenty of water starting an hour before and ending 30 minutes before the test, and not urinate before performing the examination.
• Soft tissue ultrasound:Used to evaluate alterations in the thyroid and parathyroid glands, breast, scrotum and testicles, and occasionally other superficial locations. The test not only allows the alterations to be visualized and characterized, but also to be used as a guide for fine needle puncture (FNAB) or biopsy of the possible alterations found in the study.
• Ecografía vascular:Se emplea para evaluar las estructuras vasculares y analizar si existen alteraciones como dilataciones, estrecheces u oclusiones. The most frequently explored vessels are those of the neck, arms, and legs; including arteries and/or veins, as well as the study of surgical bypasses (vascular grafts) and arteriovenous fistulas for hemodialysis.

Echogram or Doppler Ultrasound

• Transplant ultrasound:Used to evaluate liver, kidney and pancreas transplants, monitoring for signs of rejection or other alterations.
• Interventional ultrasound:Encompasses a wide range of therapeutic procedures that include biopsies, aspirations of cysts, drainage of fluid collections in the lung, abdomen and subcutaneous tissues, and oncological ablative techniques (tumor treatments).
• Doopler ultrasounds:Cervicothoracic venous Doopler, color Doppler of extremities (arterial and venous), color Doppler of supra-aortic trunks (carotids), Doopler with contrast.
• Obstetric ultrasound. It has become an increasingly important part of prenatal care, providing information that can help a doctor plan a pregnant woman’s follow-up, thereby improving the chances of pregnancy success .

Preparation

• If the Ultrasound is abdominal, you will come on an empty stomach (at least 5 hours before the examination), being able to drink liquids that do not contain gas. You won’t have to come with a full bladdereither .
• If the Ultrasound is of the urinary system ( Kidney-Vesical-Prostatic) or gynecological (pelvic), you will drink one and a half liters before the test (still drinks) and will not urinate until the test is over.
• For the rest of the Ultrasounds no special preparation will be required.

Other uses of ultrasound

• Physiotherapy:The use of ultrasound for physiotherapy is used with high frequencies, around 1-3 MHz. The ultrasound device used generates this type of wave through the inverse piezoelectric effect, which consists of the application of voltage to a crystal (the most used is quartz) to produce its deformation millions of times per second, causing vibrations that will be responsible for causing the physiological effects in the body.
• Insect repellents:They are used as insect repellents given various applications for computers and cell phones, which reproduce an acoustic wave as explained above, which bothers insects, especially mosquitoes.
• Use by animals:Some animals such as dolphins and bats use it in a similar way to radar in their orientation. This phenomenon is known as echolocation . The waves emitted by these animals are so high that they easily “bounce” off all the objects around them, this causes them to create an “image” and orient themselves to where they are.