Parent & Patient Information System 06/09/2015 Page31 / 51 Chapter 6 - Ultrasound - a noninvasive diagnostic tool A renal ultrasound is a safe and painless test that uses sound waves to make images of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. During the examination, an ultrasound machine sends sound waves into the kidney area and images are recorded on a computer. The black-and-white images show the internal structure of the kidneys and related organs. Renal ultrasounds help to clarify certain issues like the size of the kidneys, signs of injury to them, abnormalities present since birth, presence of blockages or kidney stones, complications of a urinary tract infection, and cysts or tumors to name a few. Usually, there is no need for any special preparation for a renal ultrasound. Parents are usually welcome to accompany their child to provide reassurance and support. The child will be asked to lie on a table. The room is usually dark so the images can be seen clearly on the computer screen. The sonographer will spread a clear, warm gel on the child's abdomen over the kidney area. This gel helps with the transmission of the sound waves. Subsequently a small wand (transducer) will be rubbed over the gel. The transducer emits high-frequency sound waves and a computer measures how the sound waves bounce back from the body. The computer changes those sound waves into images to be analyzed. The procedure usually takes less than 30 minutes.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NjM1NTk=