Preparation for ultrasound of the newborn

Preparation for ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity organs

1. Preparation of the patient. If clinical conditions permit, the child should not be given food and water for 3 hours before the study.
2. Position of the patient. The child should lie on his back on a soft, comfortable pillow. Hands should be raised so that the abdomen is free. Apply a contact gel to the stomach.
3. Select the sensor. Use a 7.5 MHz sensor, if available. However, sufficient information can also be obtained by using a 5 MHz sensor. Optimal use of a small sector sensor for the study of small areas of the body of a newborn.
4. Setting the appropriate sensitivity level of the device.

Begin by placing the sensor along the midline of the abdomen under the xiphoid process. Tilt the sensor to the right until you get a picture of the liver. Adjust the sensitivity level so as to obtain a picture of the liver of normal echogenicity and structure. In this case, the diaphragm should be visualized as a hyperechoic line along the posterior contour of the liver, and the portal and hepatic veins will be defined as anechoic tubular structures. The borders of the portal vein look hyperechoic, the hepatic veins do not have hyperechoic walls.

Scanning technique: abdominal area

It is necessary to carry out transverse and longitudinal sections. As in adults, the aorta, the lower hollow and portal veins should be visualized.