What is a USG ABDOMEN AND PELVIS CHILD?

A paediatric abdominal ultrasound is an examination of the abdomen with an ultrasound machine that uses sound waves to form images of different organs within the child’s body. The sound waves cannot be heard by the human ear and cannot be felt by the child having the ultrasound study.

Abdominal ultrasound studies are most commonly performed to investigate the causes of abdominal pain or whether there is a mass of tissue or “lump”. This type of study is particularly useful in examining the liver and kidneys but can provide very useful information about other organs.

How do I prepare my child for a paediatric abdominal ultrasound?

Food and air in the stomach and intestines make an abdominal ultrasound study difficult to perform and interpret so the most important preparation is for your child not to eat before the abdominal ultrasound study.

The length of time your child will need to go without food will depend on their age. Very young children will only be asked to fast for as little as 3 hours but older children will be asked to fast for up to 10 hours. This can be difficult for some children and parents. It is often best to make the ultrasound appointment early in the day so the child is awake for as little time as possible without being able to eat.

If your child takes medications with clear liquids, these can be taken as normal before the ultrasound scan. If your child needs to take the medication with food, you will need to discuss with your doctor, the timing of the medication and ultrasound study.

Your child should wear clothes that allow the abdomen (stomach area) to be exposed easily from the lower chest to the skin crease where the legs “join” the pelvis and lower abdomen.

What happens during a paediatric abdominal ultrasound?

A transducer (a small, smooth, handheld device), which converts electrical energy from the ultrasound machine computer to sound waves, is placed on the abdomen and moved gently back and forth over the skin to show different parts of the body.

A clear gel is used to make the transducer contact closely with the skin and allow it to slide smoothly across the skin over the abdomen. The sound waves which are bounced back from the body to the transducer are converted back to electrical energy, which is then analysed by the ultrasound machine computer to make an image that can be seen on the video screen of the ultrasound machine.

Your child will lie down on an ultrasound bed, usually on his or her back for the examination. Sometimes, the sonographer (the person performing the ultrasound scan) will roll your child into different positions or ask your child to roll into different positions depending on your child’s age. Older children will sometimes be asked to take a deep breath or hold his or her breath for a short time to get as clear a picture as possible on the ultrasound screen.

Are there any after-effects of a paediatric abdominal ultrasound?

The ultrasound waves used for diagnostic ultrasound examinations cannot be felt by humans and do not cause any harm.
The gel used in the study washes off in the water and should not mark or stain clothing. It may dry as a white powder on your child’s skin.

Your child will not feel any different before, during or after the test, and can return to school, kindergarten, or child care after the study provided there is no medical reason not to do so.

How long does a paediatric abdominal ultrasound take?

The time taken for the ultrasound varies with the age and level of cooperation of the child and the reason for the scan. However, it would usually take about 20-30 minutes including time for the person performing the study to check the quality of the images is satisfactory.

What are the risks of a paediatric abdominal ultrasound?

A paediatric abdominal ultrasound study is a safe procedure that causes no harm.
If there is a lot of gas in the abdomen or the child is unable to hold still, some organs or areas inside the body may not be seen properly and the examination may not give all the information your doctor was expecting to receive. For example, the ultrasound examination may not always show the cause of your child’s symptoms and further investigation(s) may be necessary.

What are the benefits of a paediatric abdominal ultrasound?

An ultrasound study is ideally suited to babies and children as there are no potentially harmful X-rays and the ultrasound examination can be performed without the child having to be sedated, to hold completely still or without the child having to alter their breathing (although sometimes older children may be asked to take a deep breath or hold their breath for a short time).

Ultrasound studies have no side effects and can show some organs very easily.