Ultrasound

When diagnosing a medical condition, a physical exam may not provide all the necessary information. Sometimes, you need diagnostic testing like an ultrasound. At St. Michael's Elite Hospital in Sugar Land, Texas, the team of board-certified emergency room physicians requests ultrasound testing to diagnose conditions to get the immediate care you need. St. Michael's Elite Hospital is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and has diagnostic tools and treatments to deliver exceptional, high-quality care. For a better alternative to the traditional hospital ER, call or walk in today. 

What is an ultrasound?

An ultrasound, also known as a sonogram, is a noninvasive, painless imaging tool. It uses high-frequency sound waves to generate images of the organs and tissues in your body. 

During an ultrasound, the certified radiology technician places the sonogram wand on your body. The wand sends high-frequency sound waves into your body, which bounce off the organs and tissues and return to the wand.

The sonogram wand sends the information to a computer that translates the sound waves into moving images your emergency room physician views on a computer monitor. 

When would I need an ultrasound?

The team at St. Michael's Elite Hospital determines when you might need an ultrasound test during your ER visit. They request ultrasound testing to evaluate various body parts to help formulate a diagnosis.

You may need ultrasound testing to:

• Confirm or rule out gallbladder disease
• Assess blood flow through veins or arteries
• Look for lumps or tumors
• Evaluate the reproductive organs, urinary system, or digestive system
• Confirm a pregnancy
• Check the thyroid gland
• Assess joint health

The physicians at St. Michael's Elite Hospital may also use ultrasound imaging to guide a needle during a biopsy or fluid aspiration. 

What happens during an ultrasound?

Ultrasound testing at St. Michael's Elite Hospital takes 30 minutes or less. 

Depending on the type of ultrasound you need, the team may need you to drink six glasses of water two hours before the test without urinating in-between. Some ultrasound exams require fasting up to 12 hours prior to the test. 

The team at St. Michael's Elite Hospital provides specific instructions on how you need to prepare for your ultrasound before the test. For emergency, life-threatening situations, you do not need special preparation. 

A certified radiology technician at St. Michael's Elite Hospital performs your test. The technician applies a special gel to your skin and glides the wand over your skin to get the images.

The technician wipes off the gel and sends you back to your private exam room until your ER physician has the results of your test.

How long do results from an ultrasound take?

St. Michael's Elite Hospital has a radiologist on standby 24 hours a day who evaluates the images from the ultrasound and provides a report to the team.

Results from ultrasound testing take an hour or less. Your provider discusses their findings with you and makes specific recommendations, which may include treatments or additional testing. 

For quick and compassionate emergency care, call St. Michael's Elite Hospital. Walk-ins are welcome.