"MD Ultrasound is committed to high clinical standards whilst providing efficient service to both practitioner and patient alike."

Please find following patient preparation regimes, examination types and indications for scans offered by MD Ultrasound.

General Ultrasound

Patients may take normal medication on morning of examination with a small amount of water. Diabetic patients may take small amount of clear fluid and low fat food (Sweets) on morning of appointment.

Upper Abdomen

Patient preparation

10 hour fast. If abdomen and pelvis required patient to present fasting and then fills bladder.

Indications

Pathology of the Aorta, IVC, Pancreas, Liver, Bile duct, Spleen, Kidneys, Gallbladder

Renal

Patient preparation

Full Bladder. Drink 2 pints of water one hour prior to scan appointment

Indications

Renal / Bladder pathology, UTI, Haematuria, Dysuria, Nocturia, Frequency, Prostate size, Residual bladder volume

Female Pelvic

Patient preparation

Full Bladder. Drink 2 pints of water one hour prior to scan appointment

Indications

Uterine, Endometrium, Fallopian & Ovarian pathology. Kidneys assessed if patient presents with pain

Transvaginal scan. The 'Endovaginal' or 'Internal' scanning method is far superior in image quality, detail and sensitivity. Therefore, this examination is offered to all women routinely. It is performed with an empty bladder after gaining signed, informed consent from the patient. Some pathology may only be detected using this technique. This is performed on the day of the scan if requested and incurs an additional fee. Please call the clinic if you have any questions regarding this procedure. A description of the procedure may be found using www.mdu.ie under patient information.

VASCULAR

Arterial

Leg arteries

Patient preparation

One leg - No preparation
Two legs - 10 hour fast to allow visualisation of abdominal / pelvic vessels. Please state which leg or both legs

Indications

Peripheral vascular disease, Claudication, Trauma, Aneurysm

Arm arteries

Patient preparation

None. Please state which arm or both arms

Indications

Thoracic outlet syndrome, Peripheral vascular disease, Trauma, Raynards disease

Carotid Arteries

Patient preparation

None

Indications

FHx stroke, TIA's, RIND's, Bruit, FHx Vascular disease

Venous

Leg veins

Patient preparation

One leg - None
Two legs - 10 hour fast to allow visualisation of abdominal vessels Please state which leg or both legs

Indications

Deep Vein Thrombosis, Superficial vein thrombosis, Ruptured bakers cyst, Venous incompetence. Please state if indication is either DVT or Venous incompetence

Arm veins

Patient preparation

None

Indications

Deep Vein Thrombosis, Superficial vein thrombosis, Oedema post mastectomy

MUSCULOSKELETAL

No preparation required

Shoulder

Indications

Rotator cuff tear, Bursitis, Supraspinatus impingement, ACJ instability, Adhesive capsulitis

Knee

Indications

Ruptured bakers cyst, Joint effusion, Patella/ Quadricep /Collateral Tendonopathy NB. Cruciate ligaments require MRI

Achilles Tendon

Indications

Tendonopathy, Rupture, Partial tear

Hand / Wrist / Finger

Indications

deQuervain's syndrome, Ganglion, Tendonopathy

Groin / Inguinal Canal

Indications

Direct / Indirect Inguinal hernia, Herniated contents, Reducible / Irreducible

Soft tissue

Indications

Lipoma etc., Foreign body, Abdominal wall hernia

Muscles

Indications

Tear , Collection, Haematoma, Lesion

Paediatric Hips

Indications

Congenital Hip Dysplasia / Dislocation
No preparation. Optimum baby age 6 weeks old. Scanning at greater than 3 months reduces visibility of anatomy.

OBSTETRICS

Dating / Viability

Patient preparation

Full Bladder. Drink 2 pints of water one hour prior to scan appointment.

Indications

Gestations age, Gestational number, Ectopic, Viability. Note ; Transvaginal scans offered when clinically appropriate

Nuchal translucency

Patient preparation

Full Bladder. Drink 2 pints of water one hour prior to scan appointment.

Indications

Medical Diagnostic imaging is fully accredited with the Foetal medicine foundation (FMF), a world leader in obstetric screening and research. During assessment of the fetus the Nuchal thickness (NT) is measured. Other fetal morphology and biometry is also assessed. Different data (for example the mothers age and weight) is then entered into a state of the art computer software program attached to the FMF. This then gives the risks or odds of baby having Down's Syndrome and Trisomys 13 and 18. Results are provided to the referring doctor within 24 hours. This is not a definitive assessment and is used to assess risk only. Different factors can affect the NT. The ultrasound may be combined with blood biochemistry to give a combined risk assessment.

Please call the clinic if you have questions regarding this procedure. Information and online medical practitioner and patient lectures may be found on www.fetalmedicine.com/

Anomaly Scans

Patient preparation

Performed between 19 & 24 weeks gestation. Full Bladder. Drink 2 pints of water one hour prior to scan appointment.

Indications

Detailed fetal morphology and biometry, Placenta site, Amniotic fluid assessment

Third trimester scans

Patient preparation

None
Performed after 28 weeks gestation.

Indications

Estimated Foetal Weight, IUGR, Serial growth scans, Limited morphology and biometry, Amniotic Fluid Index, Umbilical Cord Doppler, Placenta position, Fetal Lie / position

Cervical length

Indications

Cervical incompetence, Fluid loss, Placenta praevia. Note; Transvaginal scan required for accurate assessment

Multiple gestations

Dating, Viability, Chorionicity , Nuchal translucency, Anomaly scans, Serial Growth scans

MISCELLANEOUS

Thyroid / Neck / Salivary glands

Patient preparation

None

Indications

Goitre, Graves disease, Hashimoto's disease, Thyroid retrosternal extension, Lymphadenopathy, Thyroglossal duct cyst, Branchial cyst, Parathyroid adenoma, Salivary Calculi

Testis

Patient preparation

None

Indications

Torsion, Orchitis, Epididymitis, Epididymal cyst, Hydrocoele, Lesion