Ultrasound examination of the stomach and duodenum provides information about the state of these areas. Usually, a separate examination of the stomach along with the duodenum is not carried out. Such an analysis is included in a comprehensive ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity. The results represent screening data on the state of health of the internal organs, the examined part of the body.
If the patient only needs testing of the duodenum along with the stomach, then, as a rule, ultrasound is performed first, and then, if suspicious activity is detected, he is assigned a subsequent gastroscopy.
An especially relevant approach may be for parents of young children, who are unlikely to be able to persuade the crumbs to sit quietly during a rather unpleasant procedure.
Also, echography will become a lifesaver if the patient is at risk for those who are contraindicated in gastroscopy. The most striking example of this is the inflammatory process in the esophagus.
Popular indications
The main distinguishing feature of the presented diagnostic format is non-invasiveness, which indicates the absence of pain during the procedure. This makes it possible to evaluate, if necessary, the functional and anatomical state of the organ in order to compare the collected information with generally accepted standards.
Sometimes ultrasound is prescribed as a preventive control for persons after surgery.
For the same purposes, an examination is carried out during a therapeutic course in patients to regularly monitor the dynamics of recovery. Based on the collected data, a conclusion is made about the appropriate therapy regimen or its operational adjustment is carried out.
There are many reasons for a doctor to issue a referral to a diagnostic room. The most common of these are the patient’s complaints of acute or aching pain in the epigastric region.
Also, indications for sending for testing may be mechanical injuries of the abdomen. Moreover, the sooner the control examination is performed for the victim, the less likely it is to develop negative side effects.
Other common indications for manipulation include:
- ulcer, gastritis, or suspicion of them;
- neoplasms in the esophagus or stomach;
- intestinal obstruction;
- anomalies in the structure of the gastrointestinal tract or duodenum.
Separately, the examination can be useful in parallel manipulations, where detailed visualization of the actions performed is required.
Preparatory stage
In contrast to ultrasound examination of other parts of the body, to assess the state of the stomach along with the duodenum, you will need to adhere to special preparation. It comes down to reducing the risk of flatulence. To prevent increased gas formation and bloating from blocking the viewing angle, you should take care in advance to extract the following foods from your daily diet:
- beans;
- cabbage;
- raw vegetables with fruits;
- Rye bread;
- carbonated drinks.
All this must be done three days before the date of the scheduled procedure. You should also make sure that there are no alcoholic drinks on the menu.
Dinner on the eve of the procedure should be as light as possible, but at the same time nutritious. You should eat no later than eight o’clock in the evening. And on waking up, breakfast is strictly prohibited.
You can’t drink or smoke either. If the patient experiences severe hunger pains, then half a glass of tea with a small cracker is allowed.
Only taking into account all the indicated precautions will it be possible to identify possible deviations that worsen the quality of life.
Scan Features
First, the victim will be asked to remove all metal jewelry, such as piercings, from the abdomen. Only after that the person is laid down on a medical couch, exposing the stomach.
The doctor, using a special gel for better contact with the skin, holds the sensor through different parts of the stomach. To achieve effective visualization, the patient must follow the instructions of the diagnostician, who will ask several times during the manipulation to change the position of the body.
Each of the provisions is designed to identify possible pathologies in different parts of the stomach. We are talking about the bottom, the body of the organ, as well as the antrum, the initial segment of the duodenum. All together, it will allow monitoring the thickness of all the walls of these internal organs, as well as potential deformities or other pathologies.
If the device belongs to a new generation of medical equipment, then it has a Doppler mode. With it, you can get information about the blood supply to the lower part of the stomach. Additionally, the technique evaluates the evacuation function.
For the last measurement, the organ is first examined on an empty stomach, and then, to stimulate peristalsis, it is proposed to drink 400 ml of mineral water without gas. After preparation, an antrum scan is performed every 15 minutes.
The average indicator is considered to be a decrease in its volume by approximately 50% in relation to the initial level. In this case, the evacuation rate of the incoming water should be in the range from 20 to 75 minutes.
Norm and deviations
Approved standards and norms are used for diagnostics and issuance of a conclusion. The structure of the studied tissues, a possible inflammatory process in neighboring areas, and the features of the detected lesion are also taken into account. Through testing in the early stages of the disease, it is possible to successfully diagnose and then treat:
- ulcers, including perforated ones;
- duodenogastric reflux;
- neoplasms;
- polyps;
- wall thickening;
- erosion of mucous membranes;
- gastritis;
- peritonitis;
- intestinal obstruction.
Sometimes, to increase the productivity of the analysis, it is recommended to use contrasting with the use of special solutions.
It is also necessary, in order to avoid negative consequences for well-being, to pre-conduct an allergic test. This will reduce the risk of developing anaphylactic shock due to a rapid allergic reaction.
Additionally, a contrasting procedure is mandatory if the patient is suspected of having polyps, tumors, or destabilization of motor skills.
The collected information is an important argument in favor of a certain disease, but is not a diagnosis. For a final diagnosis, a gastroenterologist or oncologist must take into account the results of other tests and, possibly, examination methods. For this, information from the medical history, anamnesis and hereditary predisposition are also taken into account.
Carrying out ultrasound of the stomach and duodenum can be considered as the first stage of examination of these organs. For more detailed information, other methods of examination are carried out. However, this method is used in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal pathologies and, given its good tolerability, can be useful.