General Ultrasound Preparation
Most ultrasound procedures do not require advance preparation. The exceptions are listed below:
For any study, if your doctor gave you an order, please bring it with you.
Abdominal Ultrasound and Abdominal Ultrasound with Doppler
(Liver, spleen, gallbladder, kidneys, pancreas, abdominal aorta, biliary system)
- (Exam time: 30 min; visit time about 1-1/2 hours)
- Adults: Do not eat or drink eight hours before exam.
- Children: Do not eat or drink four hours before study or skip one meal.
- Take medications with a small sip of water.
- If you are diabetic, please take your insulin.
(Uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, urinary bladder)
- (Exam time: 30 min; visit time about 1-1/2 hours)
- Our protocol is to include transvaginal ultrasound for females.
- Eat normally.
- One hour before your exam, drink 32 ounces of water.
- Do not empty your bladder before your exam.
Bladder Ultrasound
- For both male and female patients, one hour before your exam, drink 32 ounces of water.
Prostate-Transrectal Ultrasound
- Two hours before your exam, do a cleansing with a Fleet enema #1.
- Follow preparations for prostate ultrasound
Transvaginal Ultrasound
- Drink 32 ounces of any liquid one hour before the exam. Do not urinate before the exam so you arrive for at the exam with a full bladder.
Hysterosonogram
- No unprotected sexual relations during the first 10 days of your menstrual cycle.
Ultrasound-Guided Biopsies
Ultrasound breast biopsy
- You must be off aspirin, blood thinners and vitamin E for seven days prior to your biopsy.
Liver biopsy / paracentesis / thoracentesis / prostate biopsy
- Do not eat or drink after midnight the day before your biopsy.
- You must be off aspirin, blood thinners and vitamin E for seven days before your biopsy.
The S. Mark Taper Foundation Imaging Center provides a full range of advanced imaging, both radiology and cardiology, as well as interventional radiology and interventional tumor (oncology) treatments to the greater Los Angeles area, including Beverly Hills, Encino, Mid-Cities, Sherman Oaks, Silver Lake, Studio City, Toluca Lake and West Hollywood.