Ultrasound

Medical ultrasound imaging and cardiac ultrasound imaging is offered at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital.  Also known as sonography and echocardiography, which involves exposing part of the body to high-frequency sound waves to produce pictures of the inside of the body. Ultrasound is often the first-line diagnostic tool, a starting point to problem solve a patient’s condition. Ultrasound diagnostic imaging technology offers unlimited scanning angles and dedicated views of the organ systems.

Cardiac ultrasound imaging or echocardiography is an imaging procedure in which the goal is to generate a picture of the heart for the purpose of evaluating a heart condition or suspected heart problem. Like other types of ultrasound imaging, cardiac ultrasound is non-invasive and painless, and it can be performed as an outpatient procedure in a clinic or hospital. There are a variety of reasons for a doctor to request a cardiac ultrasound, and he or she will usually discuss the reason for the procedure with the patient at the time that the procedure is recommended.

Both medical and cardiac ultrasounds are non-invasive, readily available, portable, and involves minimal patient discomfort. Ultrasound exams do not use ionizing radiation (as used in x-rays). Because ultrasound images are captured in real-time, they can show the structure and movement of the body’s internal organs, as well as blood flowing through blood vessels.

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital Sonographers hold credentialing by the ARDMS or equivalent certification bodies to perform the following:

• Echocardiography, Adult
  • Transthoracic Echo
  • Stress Echo
  • Dobutamine Stress Echo
  • Bubble Studies
• Abdominal Imaging
  • Liver
  • Gallbladder
  • Kidney
  • Spleen
  • Pancreas
  • Aorta
• Gynecologic Imaging
  • Uterus and Ovaries
    • Transabdominal
    • Endovaginal
• Obstetrical Imaging
  • Nuchal Lucency Evaluation
  • First Trimester
  • Second Trimester
  • Third Trimester
  • Biophysical Profile
• Breast Imaging
• Small Parts
  • Thyroid Imaging
  • Scrotal Imaging
• Vascular Imaging
  • DVT
  • Arterial Evaluation
  • Peripheral Vascular Testing (ABI)
  • Renal Artery Ultrasound
  • Mesenteric Ultrasound
  • Grafts
• Pediatrics
• Musculoskeletal Imaging
  • Median Nerve
    • Carpal Tunnel
    • Tennis elbow

How to prepare for the test

Abdominal Ultrasound

• Adults should not eat anything after midnight (or be fasting for 8 hours prior to the exam); children 8 and under should fast 4 hours prior to the exam.

Gynecologic Ultrasound

• Please drink 32 oz of water one hour prior to the exam; your bladder should be full.

OB Exam

• Please drink 32 oz of water one hour prior to the exam; your bladder should be full.

Vascular Imaging

• If the area to be imaged is in the abdomen, please fast for 6 hours prior to the examination (i.e. renal artery, mesenteric, splenic, aorta).

There is no prep for extremity ultrasounds.

There is no prep for small parts, breast or musculoskeletal imaging.