Summary: Contraindications For Ultrasound

Our ears convert sound waves into audible sounds for us to process. The sound waves used in medical sonography must be generated by the machine itself to create the vibrations that travel through body tissues and ultimately enable medical professionals to see images of the inside of our bodies. Vaguely similar to humans who process the sounds we hear and can “picture” the source in our minds if we are unable to see it directly, medical professionals use ultrasound to create images in order to visualize internal structures. Using this method of imaging, physicians are able to identify and visualize abnormalities and potential disease or confirm that we are healthy, or whether a fetus is developing normally. While most people associate ultrasound imaging with pregnant women, they are also used as a diagnostic tool in many other areas of medicine. For example, in addition to obstetrics, ultrasound is used in cardiology as well. Cardiologists use this technology to see inside the heart and identify any abnormalities, and they also use ultrasound imaging to measure blood flow through the heart and major arteries. Additionally, urologists use ultrasound imaging to visualize kidney stones or detect prostate cancer. Gynecologists also use ultrasound to detect any abnormalities in a woman’s reproductive system. Today, ultrasound imaging is utilized in nearly every area of

Dr. Fox is an emergency physician at UCI Medical Center, treating and diagnosing patients using an ultrasound. His scope of research involves looking at patients’ internal organs via ultrasound, which is much quicker and less harmful than using x-ray scans that are traditionally used in emergency departments. He is also a part of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (“Faculty and Staff”). Dr. Fox is also a director of instructional ultrasound and is the assistant dean at the UCI School of Medicine (“John Christian Fox”). He started an ultrasound rotation at the UCI School of Medicine, and with a grant given by SonoSite, Inc., the ultrasound curriculum is now embedded within the UCI School of Medicine curriculum (“Faculty and Staff”). He went to Tufts University School of Medicine, receiving his MD in 1997 (“John Christian Fox”). His main research focus is to try to incorporate ultrasound more into the emergency department, and tries to find revolutionary ways to utilize ultrasound, especially because it is very cost-efficient and images are seen real-time, unlike MRI scans or x-rays, which can emit harmful radiation or results take much longer to acquire. Eric Viquez is one of the Bio 199/EMRAP (Emergency Medicine Research Associates Program) students in Dr. Fox’s ultrasound lab. He is currently a 4th year undergraduate biological sciences major who is going to medical school in the fall; he shadows shifts with Dr. Fox and

What are your options when it comes to an ultrasound? Read on to find out.

My freshman year of high school, I displayed symptoms of appendicitis and an ultrasound had been requested by my doctor. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that ultrasounds were not just for when you were expecting a little one, they serve diagnostic purposes as well. Interested, I researched the different fields of ultrasound sonography and had a specific attraction to obstetric sonography. Obstetric sonography, is specialized in capturing the inside of a woman’s uterus and reveal the growth and development of an embryo or fetus if she is pregnant.

Therefore the question is: “Is the risk worth the benefit?” [1] Dijikman says that the general belief is that ultrasound contrast agents or UCAs are safe [1]. One of the studies was done on the contrast, Sonovue, which is used in echocardiography [1]. This analysis was done on 157,838 studies which 19 cases were severe,

I am sorry for your loss .It is common to experience cramping and spotting for few days after the procedure. It should usually slow down over a time. What point of concern here is, bleeding stopped and started again. Follow up ultrasound is very important after D&C to confirm that procedure is completed. There are chances that bit of placenta continue to stick to uterus and drew a little bit fresh blood.

Ultrasound relies on high frequency sounds to image the body. As stated above, ultrasound are produced by an ultrasound transducer. To produce ultrasound, a piezoelectric crystal has an alternating current applied across it, this causes the crystal to vibrate at a high speed and to produce ultrasound as it converts electrical energy to mechanical energy in sound waves. This sound wave bounces off the object being scanned. This sound triggers the piezoelectric crystal and has its affects reversed. By measuring the time taken to send and receive the sound the computer can produce images. Ultrasound poses no health risks while x rays give off varying degrees of radiation. Exposure to radiation can have long term health although the rates are very low.

In some areas there is good evidence that adequately trained emergency physicians can perform and interpret limited ultrasound scan, in other areas larger multicentre studies are still required. For clinical governance adequate training of all users is essential as is audit of their performance. Ultrasound has largely replaced CT scanning and plain radiology as well as invasive procedures with their inherent risks as the first line investigation in many medical emergencies As technology continues to advance it is likely that ultrasound will have an increasing role to play in emergency medicine both in hospital and prehospital settings. It is essential that training and evaluation through well conducted research keep pace with these advances to ensure they are to be to the benefit not detriment of patient

Ultrasound machines are generally considered as a safe imaging modality without any contraindications, because the patient will not be exposed to radiation or injected with toxic chemicals. Moreover, TUS procedures are bedside procedures. This means that the patients will not be moved to another room or transferred to another bed, which decrease the risk of moving critically ill patients. US machines also give the performing technologist the opportunity to exam the lower venous system to detect the main cause of PE, which is deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (Koenig, S. et al.

Ultrasounds help in diagnosing problems such as, physical defects and internal abnormalities of an unborn baby. “Ultrasound allows the doctor to see inside the uterus and provides much information about the pregnancy” (Radiologic Society of North America, 2013). However, some people believe that ultrasound negatively affects the tissues of the body. “When ultrasound enters the body, it heats the tissues slightly. In some cases, it can also produce small pockets of gas in body fluids or tissues known as cavitation,” (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2014). Some also believe that the force of acoustic streaming during an ultrasound can cause fetal damage. “While the effect of this force is not fully understood, research suggests that it may change cell permeability and have adverse effects on both early and late prenatal and postnatal development” (Kresser, 2011). So no matter what procedure is being performed, there are always risks and benefits involved. Although, most pregnant women are worried about the potential risks of their unborn child, they are more worried about how their child is developing inside their womb. Most pregnant women look forward to these exams so they can be aware of their unborn child’s growth and prepare if any abnormalities are

Ultrasound in modern-day medicine is continually advancing, whereby it is used for a wide range of specialized procedures. The use of diagnostic ultrasound is considered ‘safe’, as no significant deleterious effects are reported in literature, for patients and operators. Nevertheless it is fundamental that the benefits outweigh the risks for when a patient is having an ultrasound exam, and that all precautions are considered to minimize any harm (Nelson et al. 2009).

Ultrasounds are an important feature of technology used in our world today. The medical world uses ultrasounds and x-rays on an everyday bases. Ultrasounds are high-frequency sound waves and ultrasounds also produce sound waves that are beamed into the body causing return echoes that are recorded to visualize structures beneath the skin. Ultrasounds have thousands of different types and help doctors and patients see specific diseases and conditions that they cannot see otherwise. However, even though ultrasounds benefit people, many wonder if ultrasounds may have bad effects too.

Ultrasound has been used as a therapeutic modality for decades. Depending on the frequency and duration of the ultrasound there has been speculation of possible effects of healing of a wide variety of conditions. Some including fractures, tendinopathies and overall healing of tendon and muscular injuries. Therapeutic ultrasound is a deep penetrating agent that produces changes in tissue through either thermal or non-thermal mechanisms6. Ultrasound uses acoustical energy, depending on the frequency and wavelength of the energy ultrasound can be used for imagining, therapeutic deep tissue heating or tissue destruction6.

Sonography has long evolved since the discovery of sonar. Fetal imaging is one of the most recognized ultrasound exams and is constantly being redefined with better technologies and software’s. The Voluson E10 Ultrasound by GE Healthcare allows for doctors to provide accurate monitoring of a fetus. According to GEreports.com, the system has 10 times the data transfer for more speed and higher resolution. It is equipped with a new probe technology called “Electronic 4D.” The transducer uses more than 8,000 piezoelectric crystals to provide clarity and speed. This machine emits signals and process information fast enough to view the heart in real time and watch movements in 3D. The HDlive Silhouette feature allows doctors to study external and internal organs and body parts of the fetus such as the brain, face, hands and feet. Another critical feature in this machine is the HDlive Flow, in which images are produced in 3D allowing doctors to view blood flow and blood vessels. The HDlive Flow is very beneficial as it allows for accurate pictures of veins and arteries in which doctors can monitor and asses a child’s brain and heart development in the first trimester. These features provide an important indication in fetal development because

Education must be provided to mothers about the use of ultrasound in pregnancy. Parents should know that there have been many studies done to assess the safety of ultrasound in pregnancy. There has been no correlation between the use of ultrasound and ill effects on growth, or development in children exposed to ultrasound during pregnancy (Hale, 2009).