Abdominal Ultrasounds

Please ask the patient to withhold food and drink (NPO) for at least 6-8 hours prior to exam.  It is best to schedule this exam first thing in the morning asking your patient not to eat or drink anything after midnight the night before.  This will keep the patient from having to go all day without eating or drinking.  The patient may take their morning medications with a little water. This exam requires approximately 30 minutes.

Cardiac Ultrasounds

No preparation is necessary.  This exam requires approximately one hour.  Patients should continue to take their regular medications, unless told to do otherwise by your physician for another test.

Renal Ultrasounds

No preparation is necessary. This exam requires approximately 20 to 30 minutes.

Pelvic/Transvaginal Ultrasounds

Non-obstetrical Pelvic exams are routinely 2 exams.  The first exam is a transabdominal pelvic ultrasound exam and a full bladder is required.

Retroperitoneal/Bladder Scan with Post Void Residual (PVR)

Full bladder is required.  Patient will then be asked to empty the bladder and return for more images in order to obtain PVR.  This exam requires approximately 20 to 30 minutes.

OB Ultrasounds

Bladder needs to be mildly full in order to get clear pictures of the baby.  First Trimester OB ultrasound exams require 30 minutes per scan.  Second and Third Trimester OB exams (past 26 weeks) require 45 minutes per exam.  Multiple gestations require 30 minutes per baby.

Third trimester OB scans are more difficult due to late gestation and baby’s size.  Visualization of all structures may be limited.

OB Anomaly Scans

Minimum gestational age for anomaly scan is 20-22 weeks.  This allows us to have optimal visualization of all anatomic structures if the baby’s positioning allows.  This exam requires approximately 30 minutes.