Ultrasound uses computers and high-frequency sound waves, not radiation, to create pictures of the inside of the body. The test is painless, and there are no known side effects.
Ultrasound tests can show the structure and movement of the internal organs and blood flowing through vessels. Abdominal ultrasounds are common and may be used to if a child has abnormal or frequent vomiting, a painful or swollen abdomen or traumatic abdominal injuries.
Texas Children’s Hospital focuses on children, giving us a depth of expertise and experience that most other hospitals do not have. Our renowned doctors and extensively trained technologists and nurses, specialize in the care of children. Our state-of-the-art equipment is designed especially for children.
And because we know children so well, we know how to put them at ease. Child life specialists are available to help your child relax with age-appropriate games and other methods, and our environment is playful and comforting.
For most tests, your child will not have to change into a gown. You’ll be able to stay with your child during the entire procedure, even if you’re pregnant.
For the test, your child will lie on their back on a bed in a dimly lit room. The technologist will sit next to the bed, apply lotion to your child’s abdomen and then move a transducer (a camera that looks like a microphone) across the area. An image will be displayed on a TV screen next to the bed. Your child may be asked to lie on their side or stomach for some images.
Your child should lie very still and not try to touch or play with the transducer. The entire procedure, including preparation, will probably last about 1.5 hours.
How do I find out results of the ultrasound?
The technologist cannot tell you the results of the test. A pediatric radiologist will analyze the images and provide a report of the findings to your child’s doctor. Your child’s doctor will then notify you of the results.
