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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) when prescribed by a physician*.

If your health care professional has requested this test or you have any questions, feel free to contact us at 1 833 590-2715.