
Your child might not be ready to leave in time for you to get to another appointment or pick up other children at school. It’s best not to make plans that you can’t change. If this happens, your child’s appointment may be delayed and take longer than we had planned. Sometimes unexpected things happen that put us behind schedule. A special doctor (radiologist) will look at them to decide if more pictures need to be taken. Taking the pictures usually takes 30 to 45 minutes. Time is needed to prepare your child for the test. How long it takes Plan on the entire visit lasting 1-1/2 hours. If you need to bring other children with you, bring someone to take care of them while you are with the child who is having the ultrasound. It is best to leave other children at home. If your baby is bottle fed, please bring a bottle. Juice or something to eat – your child might be hungry after the test. Games, books, or other quiet activities for waiting times. A favorite item often helps distract a young or restless child during an ultrasound. Help your child choose clothes that are comfortable for him or her to lay down in.Ī blanket or stuffed animal. Therefore, most eight-hour NPO restrictions begin at midnight.Ī child up to 12 months old should have nothing to eat or drink for 4 hours before the test.Ī child 13 months or older should have nothing to eat or drink for 8 hours before the test.

We schedule these cases for early-morning time slots. How long your child must go without food or drink depends on his or her age. Your child must not have anything to eat or drink, including water, before the ultrasound of the abdomen. Ask your child questions to be sure he or she understands what you’ve said.

You might let an older child read this information sheet. Tell your child what he or she will see, hear, and feel. What you tell your child about the ultrasound depends on his or her age. Talking with your child Children are less anxious and cooperate better when they know what’s going to happen. Plus, if a patient is in pain and the sonographer's images don't find any pathology, we may come in to evaluate the patient and the site of the pain in person. We may scan the patient ourselves to get a better look at a normal structure or clarify an image the sonographer has taken. If the radiologist comes into the room, it does not mean that something is wrong.
ABDOMINAL SONOGRAM TV
Most of the rooms also have a TV which is turned to appropriate child friendly stations. Do not let your child touch or play with the transducer during the scan. It is important that your child lies very still. Your child may roll on the side or stomach for some of the pictures. The technologist will move the transducer around to several different spots, sometimes holding it still to freeze the image. He or she will hold a “transducer,” a camera that looks like a microphone, to the area. The technologist, who will sit close to the bed, will put lotion on your child’s abdomen. Next to the bed is a large machine with a TV screen. Your child will lie on his or her back on the bed. What to expect You and your child will go into a dimly lit room. Prior to the appointment, parents should familiarize themselves with the process. An abdominal imaging request is most commonly associated with abnormal or frequent vomiting in children and infants, abdominal pains, swollen belly area, and traumatic abdominal injuries. The test is painless and there are no known side effects. In an ultrasound, a computer uses sound waves to make pictures of the structures within the body. A physician may request a pediatric ultrasound for a variety of reasons.
ABDOMINAL SONOGRAM HOW TO
The idea of any medical procedure can be scary for parents and children, especially when they don’t know what to expect, which is why it is important to know how to properly prepare for the appointment with your child.


Texas Children's Pediatric Radiology Department offers timely, comprehensive imaging procedures for pediatric patients and provides a variety of services and information to ensure that you and your child have the best possible experience during your visit.
