General Preparation for an Ultrasound Exam
Most ultrasound procedures do not require advance preparation.
The exceptions are listed below:
Abdominal Ultrasound and Abdominal Ultrasound with Doppler
(Liver, Spleen, Gallbladder, Kidneys, Pancreas, Abdominal Aorta, Biliary System)
(exam time: 30 min)
- Adults: Do not eat or drink 8 hours before exam.
- Children: Do not eat or drink 4 hours propr to study or skip 1 meal.
- Take medications with a small sip of water.
- If you are diabetic, it is ok to take your insulin.
Pelvic Ultrasound
(Uterus, Ovaries, Fallopian Tubes, Urinary Bladder)
(exam time: 30 min)
Our protocol is to include transvaginal ultrasound on females.
- Eat normally.
- One hour before your exam, drink 32 oz. non-carbonated fluids. No broth, or anything dairy.
- Do not empty your bladder before your exam.
Bladder Ultrasound
- For both male and female patients, one hour before your exam, drink 32 oz. of non-carbonated fluid.
Prostate-Transrectal Ultrasound
- Two hours before your exam, you will do a cleansing with a Fleet enema.
Hysterosonogram
- No unprotected sexual relations during the first 10 days of your menstrual cycle.
Ultrasound-guided biopsies
Ultrasound breast biopsy
- You must be off Aspirin, blood thinners and vitamin E for 7 days prior to your biopsy.
Liver biopsy/ Paracentesis Ultrasound /Thoracentesis/Prostate biopsy
- Do not eat or drink after midnight the day before your biopsy.
- You must be off Aspirin, blood thinners and vitamin E for 7 days prior to your biopsy.
