Should an abdominal ultrasound be done on an empty stomach or not? Diet before conducting an ultrasound of the abdominal organs: a list of products, preparation - medsi ultrasound of internal organs on an empty stomach

For certain diagnoses of doctors, it is necessary to obtain images of internal organs abdominal cavity by ultrasound examination. It is important to understand how to properly perform an abdominal ultrasound scan - on an empty stomach or not, and also to figure out in what cases it is necessary.

Indications for research

Ultrasound of the Abdominal Cavity is used to assess the condition of such organs:

spleen;
kidney;
liver;
the abdominal aorta and other vessels of the abdominal cavity;
gallbladder;
pancreas.

A similar check is done if a person has the following symptoms:

appendicitis;
formations in the cavity or organs;
aortic aneurysms;
gallstone and kidney stone disease;
abdominal pain;
organs increase in size;
during a needle biopsy of the kidneys or liver, due to abdominal trauma, examination is necessary for control.

In combination with Doppler ultrasound is used during:

Vascular thrombosis in the organs of the cavity.
In the process of assessing congenital vessels of an arteriovenous shunt.
Constriction of blood vessels.
During the diagnosis of neoplasms.

Preparation

For the reliability of the results of the study, in the end, you should adhere to simple recommendations when preparing for an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity:

The main question that arises for many before the study is how to do ultrasound on an empty stomach or not. Indeed, to improve the quality of the study, it is better not to eat food before it at least 6-7 hours before it.
With frequent increases in gas formation, doctors advise to use 5-6 tablets of activated carbon the night before. It is allowed to take 2-3 measuring spoons of the drug "Espumisan" instead.

To reduce gas formation in the intestines, doctors recommend adherence to a diet three days before the ultrasound:

Allowed the use of such food products: cereals, poultry or beef, lean fish in baked or boiled form, one soft-boiled egg per day, cheese with a low percentage of fat.
Fractional nutrition - every 4 hours throughout the day.
Take the liquid in the form of water and weak tea in a volume of one and a half liters per day.

Attention! Analyzing the issue, an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity is done on an empty stomach or not, doctors allow, in addition to the morning hours, to conduct a study on an empty stomach, also after 15 hours. In this case, breakfast should be at 8-10 o'clock in the morning, after which food and liquids are prohibited.

Exclusion of products: raw vegetables and fruits, legumes, bread, milk, fatty meat and fish, sweets, strong coffee and juices, alcoholic and carbonated drinks.

For frequent constipation on the eve of the morning ultrasound, use a herbal laxative at about 16 hours.

Ultrasound of the kidneys and thyroid gland

Many are interested in how an ultrasound of the kidneys is performed on an empty stomach or not. You need to understand that if there is air exchange and gases in the abdominal cavity, the study will be extremely difficult. Ultrasonic waves can pass through liquid without problems, but not through gases and air.

Preparation before the study is not difficult to do on your own due to proper nutrition and drinking fluids. All of the above instructions must be followed.

Kidney ultrasound is often done at the same time as examinations of organs such as the bladder and abdomen. In such cases, an ultrasound of the kidneys is performed on an empty stomach according to the dietary instructions of doctors only early in the morning.

No special training is required to diagnose thyroid disease. Whether an ultrasound scan of the thyroid gland is performed on an empty stomach or not depends solely on the age of the patient. On an empty stomach, such a procedure is recommended only for the elderly and children in order to avoid the possibility of gag reflexes. It takes about 25 minutes.

Liquid in the stomach

For the stomach, the norm is a small amount of mucus and fluid, which will not interfere with the study of the relief of the mucous membrane. The liquid is expressed by the presence of a horizontal level, which manifests itself against the background of gas bubbles and characteristic deposition of contrast agents in the form of flakes.

When mixing a liquid with a contrast agent, the clarity of the relief image is distorted. Mucous lumps simulate filling defects. The presence of fluid is often accompanied by violations of evacuation functions, decreased tone, lowering of the stomach, changes in the relief of the mucous membrane.

Note! Often, at the beginning of the diagnosis, mucus and liquid are not observed, after that, when studying a barium suspension, a layer of liquid appears, one side of which is delimited by a gas bubble of the stomach, the other by a contrast suspension.

If an adult has accumulated fluid in the stomach on an empty stomach, the reasons may be different:

Oncological diseases (malignant formations) are present.
Liver cirrhosis, which is quite common in humans.
Insufficiency of cardiac activity.
Tuberculosis disease.
Kidney disease.
Liver pressure is elevated.
Pancreatitis
Female gynecological reasons.

Ultrasound for a child

Attention! A newborn baby may suffer from ascites due to congenital edema. Most often, the cause is the mother's illness during pregnancy and her bad habits.

Before an ultrasound of the stomach, preparation is carried out:

Before starting the study, it is recommended to take 0.5-1 liters of juice of any fruit.
Intravenous administration of a special pharmacological preparation in the required dosage. This is necessary to increase the contractile activity of the gastrointestinal tract.
Those who are interested in how the ultrasound is done correctly on an empty stomach or not - necessarily on an empty stomach.

The preparatory stage before the ultrasound examination for the child is similar. Only the dose of the drug and the amount of liquid drunk should correspond to the age norm. Thanks to this, it is possible to obtain the most reliable diagnostic result.

Ultrasound examination is a harmless, comfortable for the patient diagnostics of the abdominal organs. Internal organs are monitored by ultrasound diagnostics for adults, children, girls who are expecting a baby. For specific research results, careful preparation is required. What it consists of depends on the organ under study.

Ultrasound is a new, reliable research method. The procedure is recommended for preventive examination, suspected pathology. The technique allows you to determine diseases of the stomach, identify pathologies of the pancreas, spleen, abdominal, duodenum, liver, kidneys, view the entire body.

Ultrasound examination is indicated in the following cases:

Suspected organ change detected by palpation;
Abdominal trauma;
Regular nausea, flatulence;
Suspected tumors;
Routine organ examination;
Preparation before surgery.

If the attending physician has prescribed an examination of the abdominal organs by the method of ultrasound scanning, complex measures to prepare for the procedure are required. Before the ultrasound, you need to properly prepare for a genuine result. The doctor will not see the reasons for the ill health of the patient with large accumulations of gases in the intestines due to the inability of the rays to overcome unnecessary barriers. Most of the abdominal organs are examined on an empty stomach.

Preparation should begin 3-4 days before the examination. At the first stage, it is supposed to properly organize the diet, make up for yourself sample menu, collect Required documents... It is necessary to inform the doctor about the diseases used medicines... Chronic pathologies change the training algorithm. This concludes the preparation for the abdominal examination.

Nutrition before ultrasound

In adults, training takes place in combination with a strict diet and mechanical or medicinal. The patient should adjust the diet 3-4 days before the ultrasound. An important point is the reduction of gases in the digestive organs.

It is best to eat small amounts of food often. Food should not be washed down. You need to drink weak tea or clean warm water after you finish eating. The recommended volume of liquid per day is 1.5 liters.

It is allowed to eat cereal porridge: buckwheat, oatmeal in the water. Flaxseed porridge is allowed. Lean poultry and veal are recommended. Fish of no more than 4% fat can be safely consumed. Allowed to eat egg hard boiled. Lean meat broth soups with cereals can be eaten as a first course. Allowed compotes, natural juices of low concentration.

In the evening before the ultrasound, meat and fish products are excluded. If the research is carried out in the morning, you cannot have breakfast. Passing the examination in the afternoon or when scheduled for the evening - a light breakfast is allowed.

Espumisan, Smecta, Activated carbon will help an adult patient to cope with gas formation after a meal. Bobotik will help children.

Restrictions are imposed on popular foods, but there are many alternative diet options.

Doctors advise not to eat pork and fatty meats, which are absorbed for a long time due to an excess of fat. Bakery products, yeast-based pastries should be excluded from the diet. Vegetables and fruits in unprocessed form are gas-forming products, doctors advise not to eat them.

From drinks, alcohol, coffee, strong tea, carbonated water are contraindicated. It is not recommended to drink whole milk; it can cause fermentation in the stomach. Before the procedure, the use of sausages and sausages, pates is prohibited. All types of nuts, mushrooms are prohibited.

Nutrition for children before the procedure

A child's preparation for an ultrasound scan is different from that of an adult. Infants and toddlers under one year old can skip feedings before the test, for about 3 hours. Limit fluid intake one hour before the ultrasound.

A child from one to three years old needs to take the last meal in 4-5 hours, liquid in an hour. Children over three years old must take an eight-hour break in eating before the examination.

Purgation

Colon cleansing is the most important stage in preparation for the procedure. It is carried out the day before the diagnosis. An enema is used, filled with one and a half liters of lukewarm, unboiled water. When the mechanical cleansing of the intestines is finished, you need to use sorbents.

When preparing, instead of an enema, it is permissible to make a micro enema - Microlax. A preparation based on natural ingredients will be a good alternative to the usual way of cleansing the intestines. Works in 5-15 minutes. You can do a micro enema an hour or two before the study.

What to take with you

You do not need to go to diagnostics empty-handed - collect the necessary package of documents. Take a referral for research with the stamp of the medical institution, signed by the doctor. In the case of a paid examination - an agreement with a medical center, a receipt for payment. Passport may be required. Be sure to bring a medical certificate.

It is better to provide the doctor with the results of the previous study and the test results that will need to be taken in advance. Additional information will help the doctor pay close attention to important points.

Some medical centers do not provide disposable nappies, shoe covers, so take them with you.

Preparatory measures aimed at examining the abdominal organs

Most doctors perform a comprehensive examination of the abdominal organs. Sometimes special attention should be paid to a specific organ, since the disease can worsen the patient's well-being. In this case, the preparations are different.

Ultrasound of the bladder and kidneys

Survey Bladder allows you to identify various organ pathologies that worsen the patient's quality of life.

It is necessary to prepare carefully for the study of the organ. The authenticity of the result depends on this process. By the beginning of the procedure, the bladder fills, which helps to determine its shape, contours and wall thickness.

To fill an organ, you need to drink 1.5 liters of liquid in the form of tea, compote, pure water 2 hours before the examination. In this case, the bladder should not be emptied.

If a patient has painful sensations in the lower back, this may indicate complications in the work of the kidneys. If a kidney pathology is suspected, the doctor pays special attention during the study to the indicated organ of the patient.

The study of the adrenal glands, kidneys is carried out on an empty stomach and an empty intestine. The absence of problems with stool avoids additional stimulation, and morning emptying is sufficient. For constipation, it is better to use a laxative.

Pancreas ultrasound

When diagnosing the pancreas, the size and contours of the organ are assessed, benign, malignant formations are visualized. It is necessary to prepare carefully for the examination of the pancreas.

Three days before the study, the patient should refuse food with a high protein content. A protein-free diet includes the use of bran, vegetarian soups, vegetables, fruits, berries. Alcohol should not be consumed during the preparatory period.

Laxatives are taken on an empty stomach on the day of the procedure. Smoking is prohibited before the examination. People with regular gas production need to take Activated carbon.

Liver ultrasound

The ultrasound method for examining the liver contributes to the visualization of pathological processes in the organ at an early stage. The end result depends on the preparation for the examination of the organ.

You can prepare for an ultrasound of the liver by following the recommendations for diagnosing the abdominal organs.

For overweight people - cleansing the body with an enema or taking laxatives. Cleaning with a sorbent is acceptable.

Preparation for the diagnosis of the uterus and appendages

In women, when examining the abdominal organs, the uterus and appendages are visible. A woman needs to prepare for this type of diagnosis in advance. As in other cases, the usual dietary rules must be adjusted and aimed at cleansing the body. The examination itself is on an empty stomach. It is necessary to fill the bladder before the ultrasound of the uterus for better visualization organs, having drunk a liter of liquid an hour before the procedure, or do not empty the bladder for 2-3 hours.

Disadvantages of the method

Ultrasound reveals many diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary system... However, the diagnosis is not perfect. Separate serious pathologies are detected by alternative, more informative research methods. For ultrasound, you need to prepare in advance, otherwise a number of factors can distort the ultrasound data. Distorts readings:

Abdominal obesity;
Vigorous movements of the patient during diagnosis;
Bloating of the intestines;
Damage to the skin in the peritoneal region.

Eating on the eve of an ultrasound scan is recommended correctly, keeping an eye on the quantity and quality of food consumed. In this case, the research results will be reliable. The attending physician will tell you about the nuances during the diagnosis. The doctor will give detailed recommendations on how to properly prepare for the procedure and what drugs and pills you need to take.

Ultrasound examination is a safe and comfortable diagnostic method for the patient. The examination must be carried out at least once a year for preventive purposes. The procedure can be completed in private research centers and in the clinic to which the patient is assigned. The proper level of training will provide a reliable result, will make it possible to make an accurate diagnosis.

In this article, I want to talk about proper preparation before examining the abdominal organs.

After all, if you come unprepared for the procedure, then the quality of monitoring will be low, and the results are not reliable.

Therefore, I decided to write this material. Save it to your bookmarks so as not to lose it.

Remember! The procedure should be carried out on an empty stomach. This means that you should not eat, drink water, or other liquids 8-12 hours before your appointment. In response to the production of gastric juice, the gallbladder contracts and releases bile. It makes no sense to examine this organ in a half-empty or empty state - its structure, content and form are visualized only in conditions of full-fledged filling.
The opinion of specialists on the optimal time for the procedure differs - some gastroenterologists insist on the morning hours of the examination, since this ensures the maximum interval between meals and ultrasound. In addition, in the afternoon, due to the reflex discharge of a small amount of hydrochloric acid by the stomach, the gallbladder contracts even in conditions of refusal from the usual diet, which is the main argument in favor of morning ultrasound procedures. Other doctors allow the study to be carried out in the afternoon - when lung condition early breakfast and subsequent refusal to eat until the end of the manipulation.
People who smoke should refrain from cigarettes prior to the procedure. Nicotine can also cause a partial contraction of the gallbladder.
You should not use chewing gum before visiting a doctor - the secretion of gastric juice stimulates the contraction of the gallbladder.
If you are taking medication, you should check the time of the ultrasound scan. The ideal option is to take medication at the end of an early test procedure. Otherwise, the interval between medication intake and examination should be at least 6-8 hours. If you take drugs that stimulate the activity of the digestive tract, the need to take them on the eve of an ultrasound scan should be agreed with your doctor.
It is forbidden to take antispasmodics and pain relievers until the end of the ultrasound examination.

Cannot be carried out after some diagnostic procedures (on the same day):

Endoscopic examinations (FGDS, colonoscopy) - air entering the stomach and intestines during manipulation makes it difficult for ultrasound to pass and monitoring of the gastrointestinal tract. An ultrasound scan is allowed only 1-2 days after the examination.
X-ray contrast studies (irrigoscopy, gastroscopy, CT or MRI with contrast) - a contrast agent, visualized on an ultrasound machine, distorts the observation picture. It takes about 2-3 days to remove the contrast agent, after which you can carry out the ultrasound procedure of the internal organs.

Diet before ultrasound of the abdominal organs

The purpose of the diet before ultrasound is to minimize the intensity of fermentation processes in the intestine as much as possible. Air is a kind of barrier for the propagation of ultrasound, and accumulations of gases can significantly complicate the transmission of accurate information to the sensor from the organ under study.

In this case, the specialist has the right to postpone the procedure to another day, due to additional preparation of the patient's intestines, or to carry out monitoring, the accuracy of which will be highly questionable.

During the diet, foods that increase gas production should be excluded from the diet:

vegetables and fruits;
legumes;
milk and dairy products;
flour products and sweets (bread, muffins, cookies, sweets, gingerbread, etc.);
fatty meat dishes;
fatty fish;
carbonated drinks, juices, compotes;
alcohol.

Foodstuffs permitted for consumption and forming the basis of dietary nutrition on the eve of the study:

porridge on the water from grain cereals (oatmeal, buckwheat, pearl barley, millet, barley, wheat, rice);
Lean meat (lean beef, chicken, turkey, rabbit);
lean fish (cod, flounder, hake, pollock, haddock, sea bass, pike, river perch);
eggs (no more than 1 piece per day);
hard cheeses;
boiled potatoes, beets, carrots are allowed (if there is no individual reaction).

Of course, the above foods should not be eaten fried. Nutritionists recommend steaming, boiling, stewing or baking dishes.

It is necessary to adhere to the principle of regular fractional food intake - 4-5 times a day, every 3-4 hours, in small portions. Dinner should be light, preferably no later than 4 hours before bedtime.

Taking medications for abdominal ultrasound

Patients with gastrointestinal disorders often require additional drug preparation for the study.

With a tendency to flatulence, special medications are prescribed that reduce gas production (Espumisan, Meteospazmil, Spasm Simplex and their analogues) or enterosorbents (activated carbon, Enterosgel, Polysorb, Polyphepan, etc.) in within 3 days before the procedure.

Alternatively, the doctor may prescribe the intake of enzymes ("Mezim-forte", "Festal", "Creon", "Pancreatin") for 2-3 days before the study, for intestinal degassing.

Bowel cleansing before ultrasound of the abdominal organs

If the patient has irregular bowel movements or chronic constipation, a complete bowel movement should be achieved before the ultrasound examination.

In case of constipation, it is recommended on the eve of the ultrasound to take a laxative (laxative collection, "Guttalax", "Fitolax", etc.) or use suppositories that facilitate bowel movements ("Glycerax", "Bisacodyl", glycerin suppositories, etc.).
The use of such intensive preparations for bowel cleansing as Fortrans, Endofalk before ultrasound procedures is not recommended by doctors.
As an alternative to laxatives, enema is sometimes used (for example, if in the morning it was not possible to fully empty the intestines) 1-1.5 liters of water at room temperature.

Forced bowel cleansing is not at all necessary if the subject has regular bowel movements - in this case, natural emptying is sufficient.

Immediately before the ultrasound procedure, it is necessary to inform the functional diagnostics specialist about the existing diseases and the drugs being taken at the moment.

Ultrasound of the abdominal organs is one of the most common ways to study the health of the tissues of the stomach, liver, bladder, pancreas, intestines, duodenum, kidneys, in order to timely detect the possible presence of the disease and begin timely treatment of the disease. In order for the diagnostic procedure to take place in a regular mode and the doctor conducting the examination, it was possible to provide a high-quality interpretation of the analysis, you should undergo full training before doing an ultrasound study of the OBP. Let us consider in more detail in which clinical cases it is really recommended to use ultrasound diagnostics, as well as a list of actions aimed at cleansing the digestive tract before the procedure

Before the doctor decides to prescribe an abdominal ultrasound to the patient, he discovers a number of pathological symptoms in him, indicating a painful state of certain organs, or the whole system... Therefore, there are the following indications for this type of diagnosis:

acute and prolonged pain inside the abdomen, which is relieved only with the help of potent analgesics, and then comes back again;
internal bleeding and defecation mixed with capillary blood;
lack of appetite, which is accompanied by nausea and vomiting of unknown origin;
discoloration of the stool, or the acquisition of a rich dark or green hue by feces;
acute urinary retention, urine leakage, or kidney dysfunction;
heartburn, pain syndrome localized in the right, left hypochondrium or solar plexus.

In some cases, this symptomatology of the current disease of internal organs is accompanied by an increase in body temperature in the range from 37 to 39 degrees Celsius. Also, other indications for the use of the abdominal ultrasound technique are not excluded, which can be detected by a gastroenterologist.

Preparation for the procedure of ultrasound of the abdominal organs

In order for the doctor conducting the diagnosis to be able to obtain the most reliable and objective information about the health of the patient's internal organs, you should take care of preparation measures, which include the formation of a diet consisting of food, cleansing the gastrointestinal tract cavity from all excess and excess deposits ... Therefore, the preparatory process before the ultrasound of the OBP is a set of measures, consisting of the following steps.

Eating before an ultrasound of the OBP - on an empty stomach or not, how much can you eat?

The ultrasound examination procedure should be performed on an empty stomach so that the patient's stomach remains hungry. 3 days before the start of the diagnosis, gas-forming products such as cabbage, radish, carrots, all types of legumes are completely excluded from the diet, walnuts and peanuts, fatty meats. Alcoholic, carbonated drinks are also strictly prohibited. You can not eat later than 12 hours before the doctor will conduct an ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs. In addition, a laxative should be taken at night so that a natural cleansing of the intestines from feces and other fecal deposits occurs.

3 hours before the main examination, it is allowed to drink 250 grams of water, but not later than the specified time interval. All this will affect the results of the examination and will form the basis of the doctor's medical opinion, which means it will also affect the diagnosis. It will not be difficult for an adult to complete these simple procedures. Throughout the next 3 days, preference should be given to cereal porridges seasoned with a small amount butter, salads of fresh vegetables and herbs, fruits, boiled meat, mineral water without gases.

Drinking plenty of fluids is the key to natural cleansing of the gastrointestinal tract.

Taking Espumisan

This drug is intended to relieve excess flatulence. It is necessary to understand that in the process of fermentation and other negative biochemical reactions taking place inside the abdomen, the tissues of the internal organs of the abdominal cavity are stretched. All this makes it impossible to fully reflect the natural state of the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, preparation of the peritoneum is required before ultrasound diagnostics. Espumisan is best suited for this. For 3-5 days, a person takes 1 tablet of the medication with a meal, washed down with a small volume of water.

Can I smoke before an ultrasound scan?

There are no direct contraindications for the use of tobacco products. Despite this, gastroenterologists strongly recommend quitting smoking in order to improve the cells of the organs of the digestive, excretory and endocrine systems. This will eliminate the factor of distortion in the interpretation of diagnostic results, and will also show the true rate of each internal organ separately.

It is also important to remember that during inhalation of cigarette smoke, air involuntarily enters the stomach cavity. This factor can lead to the fact that an excessively increased volume of this organ of the digestive system will be displayed on the computer monitor.

How to prepare your child for the study?

It is much easier for an adult to complete all the preparatory procedures before an abdominal ultrasound than for children of different age groups. This is primarily due to a number of psychological barriers. Therefore, the child must be mentally adjusted to the fact that ultrasound examination of the OBP is absolutely not painful. You just need to lie down, relax and wait while the doctor performs a series of simple movements along the surface of the abdomen. It is possible that there will be a slight cold due to the liquid that is used in the diagnostic process, but nothing more.

How is the examination going?

The very process of manipulation takes place in a hospital setting in a specially equipped office. The person who is shown to undergo an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity completely removes all clothing covering the body, takes a horizontal position lying on his back. After that, the doctor applies a lubricant to the skin of the abdomen, consisting of a medical gel, which has increased signal conductivity. high frequency... The epithelium is lubricated precisely in the part where the internal organ to be examined is located

After that, a probe is leaning against the skin, emitting the corresponding ultrasound waves, which are reflected and returned back in the form of an exhaustive signal with information about the location of all tissues and organs inside the abdominal cavity. All these data are recorded on a computer device, and also displayed on a monitor in three-dimensional format. The duration of all manipulations is no more than 15-20 minutes. In most cases, everything happens much faster, and especially if the person initially did not have serious symptoms indicating the development of a serious illness.

What does abdominal ultrasound show in women?

In the representatives of the female half of the population, ultrasound of the OBP shows not only the state of the organs of the digestive, excretory, genitourinary and endocrine systems, but is also able to display the exact state of the reproductive tissues. These are the ovaries. Internal genital organs, uterus, appendages and glands, which are responsible for the secretion of female sex hormones.

In diseases of this group, the appointment of an examination using ultrasound is especially important in order to timely detect possible pathology of organs related exclusively to the body of women.

Results and transcript

It is not enough to simply carry out good diagnostics. It is also necessary to provide a decryption of the data obtained from the survey results. It passes in compliance with the following criteria.

Liquid

The doctor assesses the degree of swelling of the mucous membranes of the internal organs, whether there has been an accumulation of liquid contents in the abdominal space. Also, those organs that have a hollow structure are examined. Most of them are physiologically prone to filling with lymph, if an acute inflammatory process develops over a long period of time, which does not undergo adequate drug treatment.

Sealing

In order to determine if there is a suspicion of possible extraneous neoplasms, the doctor performs a diagnostic test for tissue density. Those parts of the internal organs, which differ in too dense cellular structure, are subject to a more detailed examination. This makes it possible to suspect the oncological process in a timely manner, identify it and prescribe adequate drug therapy with chemotherapy drugs that prevent the further increase in cancer formation.

Diffuse tissue changes

The development of any pathology of one or another abdominal organ is always closely related to the gradual transformation of its cellular structure. It can be tissue atherosclerosis, replacement of the epithelium with fiber, scarring and degeneration. Based on the presence of this pathological symptomatology, the doctor determines the severity of the current ailment, and also forms a therapeutic course while simultaneously predicting the prospects for recovery.

Each case of development of a disease of the abdominal organs is individual. Therefore, ultrasound diagnostics is aimed at identifying a specific ailment. Therefore, the decoding of the examination indicators is based directly on which organ was in the affected area of the disease, and what symptoms the patient is experiencing.

Ultrasound of the stomach is a type of echography that helps to assess the condition of this organ. The question is often asked: "Do ultrasound of the stomach?" Rarely, but still do. Some patients perform it with some discomfort in the upper abdomen, as the first stage in the examination of the gastrointestinal tract.

This method is more comfortable than gastroscopy, but, unfortunately, less effective, since not all pathology is visible during the study, and there is no possibility of histological verification of the diagnosis, that is, it is impossible to perform a biopsy and find out the nature of the changes. Ultrasound of the stomach is often done for children for primary diagnosis.

Indications for the procedure

gastritis, ulcerative mucosal lesions
suspected cancer
pyloroduodenal stenosis is a pronounced narrowing of the pylorus
intestinal obstruction (this requires an ultrasound of the gastrointestinal tract as a whole)
anomalies of embryonic development and structure.

How to Prepare for a Gastric Ultrasound

Compliance with the diet for about two days before the procedure. Do not eat foods that provoke gas formation (rye bread, peas, beans, cabbage, kefir, carbonated mineral water, fresh fruits and vegetables)
Last meal on the day preceding the study, no later than seven to eight o'clock in the evening
On the morning of the ultrasound scan of the stomach and intestines, do not eat, drink or smoke. Although, as an exception, patients with severe hunger pains are allowed to drink half a glass of tea and eat a crouton.

Such a simple preparation for an ultrasound of the stomach will allow the doctor to examine the organ well.

How research is done

Echography (ultrasound) is performed on an empty stomach. The patient either lies on his back or takes a half-sitting position. The doctor places the sensor in the epigastric region, while the position of the sensor can simultaneously visualize either the anterior and posterior walls, or the lesser and greater curvature.

Normally, there is fluid in the stomach on ultrasound in small amount... During the procedure, the shape of the organ, its position, as well as the thickness of its walls and the presence of deformations are assessed.

What does echography of the stomach show?

Scanning of this organ is usually carried out with a comprehensive examination of the abdominal cavity organs.

What will show an ultrasound of the stomach is normal?

Organ sections look like oval or rounded annular formations with an echo-negative rim and an echo-positive center.
Wall thickness from 4-6 mm in the proximal to 6-8 in the pyloric.
There are five layers in the wall, which differ in echogenicity.
The outer serous membrane is hyperechoic.
The muscular membrane is hypoechoic 2-2.5 cm in size.
The submucosa has an average echogenicity and a thickness of up to 3 mm.
The proper muscle plate of the mucosa has low hypoechogenicity and a thickness of up to 1 millimeter.
The mucous membrane is up to 1.5 mm in size, hyperechoic.
A glass of liquid is evacuated in about 20 minutes, while the time for the initial evacuation is normally about 3 minutes.
The patient is turned onto the right side to assess peristalsis.
All layers of the gastric wall should be differentiated, this is an important point in the diagnosis of tumors.
It is important to evaluate not the thickness of the walls, but their uniformity.
With ultrasound of the gastrointestinal tract, the condition of the surrounding tissues is assessed: lymphatic vessels and nodes, as well as the liver and pancreas.

Possible pathologies

With an ultrasound of the esophagus and stomach, gastroesophageal reflux can be diagnosed. The main condition for this is the presence of fluid in the cardiac zone. Several turns of the torso provoke a reverse cast. In this case, the fluid returning to the esophagus is visualized as an anechoic column. The result is quite accurate and comparable in value to a gastrointestinal X-ray with barium.
Diaphragmatic hernia is detected only in the presence of fluid in the organ cavity, its size cannot be estimated.
Cysts are extremely rare and consist of two layers: an echogenic inner mucous membrane and a hypoechoic muscular outer layer.
Ultrasound of the stomach in a child often reveals hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, characterized by a thickening of the pyloric muscle ring.