By Vaios Sygounas, specialist paediatric radiologist
Is it time for your baby ‘s first ultrasound and you’re wondering if it’s a safe procedure? Pediatric ultrasound differs from imaging modalities aimed at adults and is an ultrasound performed on children from neonatal age through adolescence, with the purpose of diagnosing a number of conditions that may occur during these age periods.
It is an imaging method that is safe, painless and fast, which tends to largely replace radiological examinations thanks to its multiple benefits for the young patient and can be a tool for examining most organs of the body.
Given the low body fat content of infants, it is an ideal test for obtaining high resolution and detailed images in this case, without the need for drug sedation, immobilization or intravenous administration of contrast fluid. Importantly, it allows the parents to be present throughout the procedure.
The advantages of ultrasound in infants
However, ultrasound (US) has many other advantages over other imaging modalities as a diagnostic tool in paediatric radiology and is in most cases the examination of choice in children and especially in infants compared to CT and MRI. In particular, ultrasound:
- No radiation .
- It is performed in a shorter time compared to MRI and CT scans .
- There is no risk of claustrophobia.
- It has significantly lower costs.
- It can be repeated as many times as needed without the effects of radiation on the newborn, child and adolescent, thus facilitating the monitoring of cases with chronic diseases.
- It enables a dynamic examination, often valuable in the differential diagnosis of diseases.
- It does not require intravenous contrast or anaesthesia.
- It enables parents to be present during the examination and to work cooperatively with the doctor and/or other qualified staff, while creating a sense of security for their baby.
- It can guide more safely and accurately invasive procedures such as punctures, biopsies, intradarticular or intramuscular injections.
Preparation
But how should parents prepare their baby for the ultrasound? The preparation depends on the type of ultrasound.
In general, parents should dress their baby in loose clothing. Some ultrasounds may ask them not to give their baby food or water for several hours before the ultrasound. Others may ask them to give their baby a large amount of water a few hours before the test.
The Pediatric Clinic of Modern UltrasoundTechnology
However, for the effective performance of ultrasound, the choice of a specialized pediatric radiology laboratory is crucial, since diagnostic imaging in babies, children and adolescents differs significantly from that of adults. In particular, ultrasound at these tender ages requires special echosounders, proper setup of the ultrasound scanner for specific examinations (e.g., brain ultrasound), specialization and experience.
All this is guaranteed by the Pediatric Clinic of Modern Ultrasound Technology of Euromedica Gate Axios, in Thessaloniki, which has a high-definition and high-performance ultrasound machine of the most modern ultrasound machines of Hitachi Ascendus Hi Vision, but also special heads for children and infants.
The clinic performs ultrasound examinations, color Doppler examinations, as well as vascular Tripplex examinations in newborns, infants and children. Detailed examinations include :
- Brain ultrasound
- Cervical ultrasound
- Ultrasound Thyroid gland
- Ultrasound of the esophagus and stomach for gastroesophageal reflux and pyloric stenosis
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Ultrasound of the kidneys, ureters, bladder
- Ultrasound-guided renal biopsy ultrasound
- Bowel ultrasound for appendicitis and congenital megacolon
- Ultrasound of the internal genital organs
- Ultrasound of the scrotum
- Ultrasound of the spine and spinal cord
- Hip ultrasound for developmental dysplasia or congenital hip dislocation
- Ultrasound of hips, knees and other joints for hymenitis, arthritis
- Soft tissue ultrasound
- Color organ Doppler and scrotal Tripplex
- Radiological examinations in newborns, infants and children
- Digital chest and musculoskeletal X-rays
- Panoramic radiographs of children
Paediatricultrasound is a valuable diagnostic tool, neonatal friendly, where the nature of the tests is always more sensitive and requires modern mechanical equipment, expertise and experience.
Contact the Pediatric Clinic of Modern Ultrasound Technology of Euromedica Pyli Axiou at: 2310 500 777