Ultrasound examination is a procedure that does not cause much concern and fear in patients. Usually a person without hesitation goes for an examination, because he knows about its safety and painlessness. It is important to note that the safety, painlessness and relative comfort of the study does not affect the information content of the method. Diagnosis is considered safe because it does not expose the patient to radiation and other harmful effects that can lead to an increased risk of developing cancer. The advantage of the technique is its accessibility. Ultrasound can be done in every clinic, medical center, clinic and private office. In addition, the price of the study is available to everyone. There is also a huge variety of portable devices for ultrasound diagnostics. Most often they are used in ambulances and in special mobile teams that travel to the countryside.
This technique has its own nuances. At the beginning of the advent of ultrasound, most doctors had a negative attitude towards ultrasound of the lungs and pleural cavity, and sometimes completely rejected the method.
The whole problem was in the mechanism of examination associated with the structural features of the organ. With the help of ultrasound, you can view the internal organs due to their dense structure. The lungs do not have a dense structure, they are represented by a tissue that is filled with air. It is for this reason that ultrasonic waves cannot linger for a long time, which prevents the specialist from examining the organ. The second caveat is that bones do not conduct ultrasound. And as you know, the chest consists of bones, so the procedure is a little more difficult and a certain shielding effect is created.
Indications for ultrasound
Ultrasound of the lungs is prescribed by a doctor for certain indications. First of all, these are diseases of the pleural cavity: pleurisy, mesothelioma, empyema, accumulation of fluid in the pleura. Also here can be attributed neoplasms, tuberculosis, foci formed after pneumonia. The procedure can be prescribed to a patient with certain complaints and symptoms: with wheezing, fever, difficulty breathing, chest injuries.
There can be many more diseases and symptoms, the above list is a list of diseases in which ultrasound examination of the lungs and pleural cavity is the most effective and appropriate. It should be noted that this procedure is not carried out for preventive purposes.
An ultrasound examination of the pleural cavity is performed to assess the state of the space between the pleural sheets that surround the lung. Parameters that are examined during an ultrasound examination:
- liquid volume;
- the amount of liquid;
- accumulation localization;
- thickness of the pleura and its integrity;
- the presence of neoplasms.
Preparation and procedure
The procedure does not require special preparation. Before the examination, you do not need to adhere to a special regimen and diet, since the intake of certain foods and liquids cannot in any way affect the final result of the lung examination. In some cases, the doctor may prescribe expectorants.
At the beginning of the procedure, the patient should remove outer clothing, lie down on the couch and take a comfortable position. After that, the doctor applies a special gel to the skin in the chest area, sets the sensors at a right angle. It is important to note that if fluid is found in the pleural cavity during the procedure, then for better visibility of the organ, the patient may be asked to take a different position. The duration of the procedure is 10-20 minutes.
Clinical practice has shown and proven the advantages and benefits of ultrasound diagnostics, including lung diagnostics. Availability in financial terms and in terms of prevalence indicates the demand for the method and its effectiveness in the diagnosis and treatment of the respiratory system.
Ultrasound will not cause harm in the form of radiation, like X-ray and tomography. The advantage of the method lies in the fact that it can be carried out as many times as necessary during the treatment. This also suggests that the method can be prescribed to infants, pregnant women and patients in serious condition, while there is no need to fear a threat to life.