Today, ultrasound is the safest and most commonly used method of kidney research. The advantages of such a study are undeniable: it is harmless and is highly informative, it is easily tolerated by patients, it is painless and does not require the introduction of any substances, the method does not cause discomfort and does not require serious preparation. Due to the above circumstances, ultrasound is considered the most common diagnostic method. Although not particularly serious, preparation for ultrasound of the kidneys is still required.
The essence of the procedure
ultrasound of the kidneys is divided into 2 varieties:
- ultrasound echography - the procedure is based on the principle of sound reflection from tissues having different densities, which allows to carefully study the renal parenchyma, timely detecting emerging tumors, conglomerates and topographic disturbances;
- Doppler ultrasound - the method is based on the Doppler effect and helps in the study of blood circulation in renal vessels.
Ultrasound is practically the only safe technique that is so effective and informative. The procedure does not use radiation, it does not adversely affect the contact of the skin with the sensors.
Preparing for
Preparation for ultrasound of the kidneys is not particularly difficult, but it is necessary because it increases the informative value of the ultrasound procedure. Simply ultrasound is not able to seep through the gases and air, which usually take place to be in the intestinal cavity. Therefore, pre-procedure preparation requires patients to perform the following activities:
- 70 hours before the ultrasound, it is necessary to exclude from the daily menu products that provoke or further enhance the gas generation process. Such products include potatoes and cabbage, black bread and milk, vegetables without heat treatment and fruits, desserts and sweets;
- During this time, patients should take drugs from the group of enterosorbents: activated carbon, fennel or espumizan. The effect of these drugs significantly reduces gassing and relieves stress from the intestine;
- On the eve of the procedure, a light dinner is allowed, which is to be held before 7 pm;
- If the research procedure is intended only for the kidney, there is no restriction on nutrition, but in the case of examining the entire abdominal cavity on the day of the procedure, there is absolutely nothing to eat;
- Practice shows that not all health facilities provide patients with disposable paper towels designed to wipe the gel from the surface of the skin, which usually remains after the study, so it is recommended to take a small towel with you. Although the gel used does not harm the tissues, it will not be possible to wipe it thoroughly anyway, and some of it will fall on the dress, so it is better to wear unskilful clothes deprived of brightness.
When the
is shown Although ultrasound examination is harmless, it is not prescribed simply, the procedure requires the presence of specific indications for its conduct. Most often, the patient is shown ultrasound examination of the kidneys in the presence of pathological conditions of the diseases, the diagnosis of which requires the procedure. Often ultrasound of the kidneys is necessary in the presence of urinary disorders such as pyelonephritis, renal cyst or urolithiasis, as well as during a medical examination.
It is advisable to perform ultrasound examination of the kidneys with obvious symptoms of renal colic, painful syndrome in the lumbar region, urinary incontinence, urinary disorders, with deviations in laboratory urinalysis.
The study is recommended in patients with symptoms such as frequent headaches with hypertension, with puffiness and swelling of the face and extremities. Ultrasound of 
kidneys is also performed in the diagnosis of pathologies of the external genital organs of an innate nature, with endocrine diseases, injuries and kidney infections. Renal ultrasound is also prescribed for pyelonephritis, kidney stone disease, renal cystic disease and congenital vascular and renal pathologies, pathological narrowing of the ureter and renal tumors. A procedure is performed for the diagnosis of vascular inflammation and dystrophic changes, with abscesses and renal omission, in the presence of fluid or air in the renal cavity.
How is the
carried out? In carrying out the research procedure, a special transducer is used, sending ultrasonic waves of high frequency. They( waves) are directed to the desired organ and are reflected from its tissues by the echo principle, and then return back to the converting device, which shows the received data in the form of an electronic picture.
Gel in this procedure is needed to better glide and remove air from the space between the device and the skin.
Doppler ultrasound examination helps in the examination of the blood flow of the necessary organs. The absence or receipt of a low-intensity signal indicates that there is an obstacle in the vessel for blood flow.
Contraindications
There are no specific contraindications to the procedure, but some circumstances may complicate the research process:
- Increased gas production in the intestinal cavity;
- Significant obesity;
- Presence in the intestine of the barium, which happens after research with this element.
In other cases, there are no contraindications for the ultrasound procedure.
