

You may also be given a mouth guard to keep your mouth open and protect your teeth, in case you bite the endoscope.

You'll usually be given a sedative to keep you calm and local anaesthetic spray to numb your throat, as an endoscopic ultrasound scan can be uncomfortable and may make you feel sick. Once it's been inserted into the body, sound waves are used to create images in the same way as an external ultrasound. The endoscope has a light and an ultrasound device on the end.

You'll usually be asked to lie on your side as the endoscope is carefully pushed down towards your stomach. LA LOUVIERE / ASTIER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY ĭuring an endoscopic ultrasound scan, an endoscope is inserted into your body, usually through your mouth, to examine areas such as your stomach or food pipe (oesophagus). There will be a toilet nearby to empty your bladder once the scan is complete. If you're having a scan of your womb or pelvic area, you may have a full bladder that causes you a little discomfort.
#Sonogram vs ultrasound skin
You shouldn't feel anything other than the sensor and gel on your skin (which is often cold). This also ensures there's continuous contact between the probe and the skin. It can also be used to examine the liver, kidneys and other organs in the tummy and pelvis, as well as other organs or tissues that can be assessed through the skin, such as muscles and joints.Ī small handheld probe is placed on your skin and moved over the part of your body being examined.Ī lubricating gel is put on your skin to allow the probe to move smoothly. External ultrasound scanĪn external ultrasound scan is most often used to examine the heart or an unborn baby in the womb. endoscopic ultrasound scan – the probe is attached to a long, thin, flexible tube (an endoscope) and passed further into the body.internal ultrasound scan – the probe is inserted into the body.external ultrasound scan – the probe is moved over the skin.There are different kinds of ultrasound scans, depending on which part of the body is being scanned and why. They can also be carried out in community locations such as GP practices, and may be performed by other healthcare professionals, such as midwives or physiotherapists who have been specially trained in ultrasound. They usually take place in a hospital radiology department and are performed either by a doctor, radiographer or a sonographer. Most ultrasound scans last between 15 and 45 minutes. In some cases, you may also be given an injection of a harmless substance called a contrast agent before the scan, as this can make the images clearer. If you need a sedative to help you relax, this will be given through a small tube into the back of your hand or into your arm. avoid eating or drinking for several hours before the scan – this may be needed before a scan of your digestive system, including the liver and gallbladderĭepending on the area of your body being examined, the hospital may ask you to remove some clothing and wear a hospital gown.drink water and not go to the toilet until after the scan – this may be needed before a scan of your unborn baby or your pelvic area.Preparing for an ultrasound scanīefore having some types of ultrasound scan, you may be asked to follow certain instructions to help improve the quality of the images produced. This image is displayed on a monitor while the scan is carried out. You can't hear these sound waves, but when they bounce off different parts of the body, they create "echoes" that are picked up by the probe and turned into a moving image. How ultrasound scans workĪ small device called an ultrasound probe is used, which gives off high-frequency sound waves. An ultrasound scan, sometimes called a sonogram, is a procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of part of the inside of the body.Īn ultrasound scan can be used to monitor an unborn baby, diagnose a condition, or guide a surgeon during certain procedures.
