Do you have a referral for an abdominal ultrasound or gastroscopy? For the test to be credible, you need to properly prepare for it.
Ultrasound( Ultrasound ) allows you to assess the condition of the organsabdominal cavity- liver, gallbladder and biliary tract, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, aorta and large vessels, bladder and prostate, and uterus and appendages. This examination is performed through the abdominal wall. The skin is smeared with a gel that prevents reflection of waves. Using ultrasound, the doctor cannot accurately assess the condition of the other parts of the digestive tract, i.e. the stomach, duodenum, intestines, or recognize peptic ulcer disease, erosions or polyps in the digestive tract.
ultrasound of the abdominal cavity - preparation for the examination
The day before the ultrasound examination, it is recommended to cleanse the intestines and take an anti-flatulent drug. Thanks to this, all organs will be clearly visible. This is especially important when assessing the condition of the pancreas. In poorly prepared patients, this organ is invisible. Doctors then say that it is obscured by gases. If the bladder is to be examined, it is necessary to fill it (you must drink at least 2 liters of fluid) and not to urinate before the test. The empty bladder is collapsed and its condition cannot be assessed. When it is full, it becomes the so-called an acoustic window, thanks to which the doctor can carefully inspect the organs of the small pelvis. In men, this allows you to determine whether the prostate gland is enlarged.
Gastroscopy - preparation for the examination
Gastroscopy (endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract) enables the assessment of the mucosa of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum. The test is performed with a flexible instrument (the thickness of the little finger) inserted into the digestive tract through the mouth. The stomach should be empty, therefore you must not drink or eat for at least 8 hours before the examination. Right in front of it, dentures should be removed. If you are taking any medications (even over-the-counter medications, vitamins, insulin), tell them about it at the time of writing - some of them should be discontinued before the examination.
The doctor must be informed about serious diseases of the circulatory and respiratory systems. In this case, before the examination, sedative drugs, i.e. anesthetics, will be administered.