Ultrasound examination is an effective and safe diagnostic method. St. Luke’s Clinic in Chernivtsi region offers ultrasound examinations using modern equipment. The procedure is performed by experienced functional diagnostics doctors. Thanks to their professionalism and high qualifications, any errors are excluded, and the result will be quickly and accurately interpreted.

When is the examination prescribed?

Ultrasound is recommended by doctors to identify diseases or clarify diagnoses, as well as when certain physiological conditions appear in a person or there are suspicions of malfunctions in vital systems and organs, namely:

1. Cardiovascular pathologies (heart defect, myocardial infarction, cardiosclerosis, cardiomyopathy, angina pectoris). Ultrasound is prescribed to patients if an electrocardiogram indicates changes in the heart chambers and blood vessels.
2. Injuries to male reproductive organs.
3. Examination of the pelvic organs and mammary glands allows women to detect inflammation of cysts, benign tumors of the reproductive organs, ovarian/uterine neoplasms. Breast ultrasound is recommended for patients over 35 years old for prevention once a year or if there is a lump in the breast.
4. Pregnancy. The first examination is performed on women at 2-14 weeks of gestation. The second – at 20-24 weeks, and the last – at 32-34 weeks. Ultrasound detects hereditary or congenital fetal pathologies, assesses the condition of the amniotic fluid and placenta.
5. Respiratory diseases (bronchial asthma, bronchitis). Doctors use ultrasound to recognize ongoing pathological processes in the pleural cavity, pleura, and lungs. They assess the degree of pulmonary hypertension if present.
6. Joint pathologies (rheumatism, scleroderma).
7. Dysfunctions of the liver, spleen, gallbladder, pancreas. The examination is performed when patients develop a concomitant clinical picture.
8. Formations on the neck, changes in thyroid gland size.
9. High blood pressure. Kidneys are subject to diagnosis to detect inflammatory processes, urolithiasis. Or to establish dynamic control over the condition of the kidneys to exclude/confirm the development of “renal hypertension” with constantly elevated blood pressure readings.

The ultrasound method allows specialists to check the blood flow velocity, vascular patency in patients’ bodies, and confirm or refute the development of pathological processes in any organ.

For which symptoms is ultrasound performed?

Early diagnosis is an important point, which is why doctors insist on performing ultrasound when the following persistent signs appear:

• severe edema;
• lumps in the breast;
• enlarged, painful lymph nodes;
• frequent fainting;
• prolonged subfebrile temperature;
• shortness of breath;
• sharp weight change in either direction;
• unsteady gait, staggering;
• emotional instability;
• pain, colic in the abdomen, heart, lower back, reproductive organs.

Ultrasound options

In the Ukrainian St. Luke’s Clinic, examination of organs is available:

• externally using different transducers, taking into account the patients’ constitution and research specifics;
• internally (cavity diagnostics rectally, vaginally).

Top-category doctors offer to perform ultrasound of:

• mammary, salivary glands, and thyroid;
• pelvic organs;
• joints;
• lymph nodes;
• lungs, pleural cavities.

Women are prescribed ultrasound during pregnancy for 3D visualization of the fetus. After 45 years – mammography. Men – examination of the penis, scrotum, urethra, reproductive organs. Other types of ultrasound are also available to patients as indicated:

• vascular Doppler ultrasonography;
• echohydrotubation to check fallopian tube patency;
• echocardiography (examination of the heart valve apparatus);
• folliculometry (monitoring of ovarian functions).

Diagnosis

Ultrasound is considered a modern option for diagnostic imaging of tissues in the human body. The device simultaneously emits ultrasound and receives a signal. A corresponding image appears on the monitor screen after the signal undergoes special processing.

Ultrasound requires patients to follow certain rules. It is recommended to:

• refrain from smoking the day before the procedure;
• avoid alcoholic/carbonated drinks, raw vegetables and fruits, legumes, sweet, flour dishes for 1-2 days;
• adhere to a diet before ultrasound of the abdominal organs;
• tell doctors what medications were taken or not taken before the examination;
• cleanse the intestines or empty the bladder before transrectal prostate ultrasound – reproductive organs, on the contrary, are scanned with a full bladder; 2.5 hours before the procedure, the patient drinks about 1.5 liters of liquid;
• provide the doctor with the results of previous examinations (if conducted) – this way the specialist will be able to take into account ongoing changes in the body and compare the clinical picture.

Advantages of ultrasound examination

The minimally invasive diagnostic method has undeniable advantages:

• recognized as absolutely harmless, safe;
• does not require special preparation;
• performed quickly;
• available for patients of any age, children and the elderly, in severe conditions;
• helps doctors obtain accurate data on the state and structure of organs.

Questions and Answers

Does ultrasound harm? No. Ultrasonic waves pass through tissues, reflect. But they do not expose the body to radiation.

Can ultrasound be done frequently? The attending physician decides how often there is a need for the procedure according to indications. For prevention, ultrasound is performed 1-2 times a year, taking into account the patient’s age.

How long does the examination take? The duration depends on the type of ultrasound. Scanning of the prostate, pancreas, and kidneys takes about 15-20 minutes. A general ultrasound of the abdominal organs takes 40-45 minutes.

How long are ultrasound results valid? 6-12 months, if a person undergoes a preventive examination or according to the doctor’s indications for monitoring, comparing therapy results. If ultrasound is prescribed to patients before surgery or treatment of oncological diseases, the validity period of the study may be reduced to 30 days.

Where to get an ultrasound?

St. Luke’s Clinic in Chernivtsi region offers examinations on high-precision equipment. They are conducted by functional diagnostics doctors with extensive experience, so even minor errors in the results are excluded.

You can ask questions about ultrasound in Chernivtsi, find out the cost of the service and the features of the preparatory stage/procedure by calling the call center operator.