Abdominal and Pelvic ultrasound
An ultrasound, also named sonography, of the abdomen and the pelvic makes it possible to see your abdominal and pelvic organs:
- Liver
- Gallbladder
- Kidneys
- Bladder
- Uterus and ovaries in women
- Prostate and seminal vesicles in men
Like all ultrasounds, the examination doesn’t use X-rays and can be used to:
- Diagnose an illness (look for tumors and infection, explore an inflammatory syndrome)
- Track changes in a disease (cancer monitoring)
- Track the growth and study the proper development of the organs of a fetus during pregnancy
- Guide a surgeon during certain surgical interventions
Preparing for the Examination (for adults)
To properly prepare for your sonography of the abdomen and the pelvic, you must :
- fast for 4 to 6 hours before the examination
- not chew gum
- have finished drinking 4 eight-ounce (960 mL) glasses of water 75 minutes before your appointment (without urinating)
Steps to follow
Here are the steps to properly prepare for your exam:
If your examination is in the morning
We will ask you to :
- not absorb solid or liquid food after midnight
- take your medication if it is essential
- not chew gum
- have finished drinking four eight-ounce (960 mL) glasses of water 75 minutes before the test and not to urinate. You need to have a full bladder during your appointment.
If your examination is after 1 p.m.
We will ask you to :
- not eat any solid foods or drink any liquids for 4 to 6 hours before the examination
- take your medication if it is essential
- not eat fatty foods in the morning (e.g. muffins, eggs, cheese, sausages, bacon, butter, margarine). You can eat a serving of oatmeal with fruit and bread, or other similar foods
- have finished drinking four eight-ounce (960 mL) glasses of water 75 minutes before the test and not to urinate. You need to have a full bladder during your appointment.
Preparing for the Examination (for children)
- Newborn to 2 years old: 4 hours of fasting and drink water 2 hours before the scan
- 3 years to 13 years: 4 to 6 hours of fasting, do not empty the bladder before the exam and drink 15 ounces of water (450 ml) about 30 to 60 minutes before the exam (varies by child).
- 14 years and older: consult the section preparing for the examination for adults
A medical prescription is required to perform this examination.
The costs of this examination are covered by the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ).
If your healthcare professional has prescribed this examination or if you have any questions, contact us at 1 833 590-2715.