Ultrasound
Brockville General Hospital has four general ultrasound units available for patients. Unlike X-ray exams, which use ionizing radiation to create images, ultrasound exams use sound waves to generate images of organs for diagnostic purposes.
Location
Ultrasounds are available at our Charles Street main site.
Preparing for an ultrasound
An appointment for an ultrasound is made with a patient's referral. Once you have been referred by your physician, he or she will send your referral to the Diagnostic Imaging Department and an appointment time will be provided to you or your physician by our Diagnostic Imaging Office staff.
Please arrive 15 minutes before your exam and check in at the registration desk on the day of your appointment.
Your preparations will vary based on the type of ultrasound exam you have booked. This will be listed on the back of your requisition. The types of exams are:
Abdomen |
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Do not eat or drink for 10 hours prior to your exam. This includes gum, candy, smoking, and water. You may have sip of water if you are taking medication. |
Abdomen and pelvis |
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Do not eat 10 hours prior to exam. Drink 40 ounces of water, finishing one hour prior to your appointment time. Do not empty your bladder until after your exam. Refrain from smoking. |
Pelvis with/without transvaginal exam |
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An hour and a half before your exam time, empty your bladder, then drink 40 ounces of water. Finish drinking one hour before your exam. Do not empty your bladder until after your exam. |
Obstetrical – first trimester |
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An hour and a half before your exam time, empty your bladder, then drink 40 ounces of water. Finish drinking water one hour before your exam. Do not empty your bladder until after your exam. During your exam, only the sonographer will be in the room with you. During your exam, only the sonographer will be in the room with you. Spouses or one (1) family member may wait in the waiting room until after the diagnostic portion of the ultrasound is complete. Children (12 and under) should not accompany the patient to any ultrasound appointment, as we cannot provide for their supervision while completing your test or treatment. Brockville General has adopted the recommendation from Sonography Canada to no longer disclose fetal sex during prenatal ultrasounds. This information, if available based on baby’s positioning and ultrasound timing, will be provided to the referring physician or midwife to share with the pregnant person, if desired. Brockville General does not provide printed images of ultrasounds. If you would like to take a photo of your baby at the end of your scan, please ask the technologist and they will accommodate. Patients can also access their images electronically by using PocketHealth Patient Sharing. |
Obstetrical – second and third trimester |
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Drink 16 ounces of water one hour before your exam. Do not empty your bladder until after your exam. During your exam, only the sonographer will be in the room with you. Spouses or one (1) family member may wait in the waiting room until after the diagnostic portion of the ultrasound is complete. Children (12 and under) should not accompany the patient to any ultrasound appointment, as we cannot provide for their supervision while completing your test or treatment. Brockville General has adopted the recommendation from Sonography Canada to no longer disclose fetal sex during prenatal ultrasounds. This information, if available based on baby’s positioning and ultrasound timing, will be provided to the referring physician or midwife to share with the pregnant person, if desired. Brockville General does not provide printed images of ultrasounds. If you would like to take a photo of your baby at the end of your scan, please ask the technologist and they will accommodate. Patients can also access their images electronically by using PocketHealth Patient Sharing. |
Biophysical profile |
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Have something to eat and drink one hour prior to your exam. Sugar will make the baby active, giving accurate results. |
Pediatric ultrasound, greater than five years of age |
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For an abdominal ultrasound, do not eat for six hours prior to your exam. For a pelvic ultrasound, finish drinking 16 to 32 ounces of liquids 30 minutes before your exam. Do not empty your bladder until after your exam. For babies having a Pyloric stenosis study, please bring a bottle to feed the baby during the exam. |
No preparations required |
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You do not need any preparations for the following types of exams:
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