About Your Ultrasound at Avera Marshall Imaging Center

• You should wear loose-fitting two-piece clothing
• You may be asked to change into a hospital gown
• Arrive 10 minutes early to check in at the Business Office
• Please follow your prep instructions carefully
  • Do not eat or drink anything 8 hours before your ultrasound (after midnight) if you are having an ultrasound on your abdominal area, your aorta, or if instructed to do so
  • Drink 12 ounces of water 30 minutes before your exam if you are having your kidneys imaged or if instructed to do so
  • Drink 32 ounces of water 1 hour before your exam if you are having a prenatal ultrasound, a pelvic ultrasound, or if instructed to do so

Tell your Sonographer if:

• You have had surgeries on the area being scanned
• You have had any previous ultrasounds of the area in question

• You will be laying on a soft exam table
• Some warm gel will be applied to the area of interest to conduct sound waves between the skin and the transducer
• The sonographer will press the transducer on the area of interest then sweep it back and forth.
• You may be asked to take a deep breath or even to hold your breath during the exam
• The test will take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour

• The gel will be wiped from your skin
• You can go about your normal daily activities
• Ultrasound exams are sent to a specialized radiologist for interpretation. The technologist will not be able to discuss results with you.
• Your test results will be sent to your doctor and he or shee will discuss them with you over the phone or at a follow-up appointment