 |
An Ultrasound Equipment
Source: Uncle Scan photo album
|
Ultrasound scanning is the use of sound waves in retrieving medical information from the human body, through the use of the ultrasound machine and a gel. It is often used in a field of medicine broadly called radiology or radio-diagnosis, aka the eyes of medicine. Sonography or sonology, which involves the use of an ultrasound machine in making diagnosis, is a clear cut branch of radiology.
The ultrasound equipment has now become one of the commonest means of making cheap, accessible, safe, yet reliable, medical check-up and early diagnosis of diseases in the human body. Worthy of note, it is of immense importance in today’s practice of evidence based medicine, as it is the first point of call in numerous health issues.
It is however disturbing to discover that some persons hold several myths about it, capable of frustrating its role in the healthcare of individuals, and of the general public. It is therefore important that a professional in the field decisively clear the air regarding these issues, so as to educate and alley the fear of the public, secure the corporation of patients referred for ultrasound scan, and also avoid certain diseases caused by perception, known as psychosomatic diseases.
 |
An accessory: The
probe
The probes or transducer is an instrument attached to the ultrasound unit which the sonographer moves over your tummy or the area of interest while examining you. We have various types with varying functions. All other probes which appear flat in shape may be moved over the area of interest, except the trans-vaginal and the trans-rectal probes which are inserted into the vagina and the anus respectively.
The probes or transducer is an instrument attached to the ultrasound unit which the sonographer moves over your tummy or the area of interest while examining you. We have various types with varying functions. All other probes which appear flat in shape may be moved over the area of interest, except the trans-vaginal and the trans-rectal probes which are inserted into the vagina and the anus respectively.
Before the transducer is
used on you, there is an ultrasonic gel that is first applied to your body. It helps
to displace air that may be trapped in your skin so that sound waves can be easily
transmitted through your skin into your body.
These are the wrong ideas you must ignore:
1. Only pregnant
women do ultrasound scans
This is not true. Ultrasound
can be done on all virtually parts of the human body except the adult brain
because it is shielded by the skull. It can be used to screen the brain of
babies, the neck, thyroid gland, breasts, and abdominal organs like the
stomach, liver, kidney, spleen and the intestines. It is also used in screening
every other part of the body not shielded by bones.
2. Frequent Scan is dangerous to an unborn baby
In the light of latest
research findings in the field of sonography, ultrasound wave, which is a non
electromagnetic wave, has no known effect on the human body. In fact, the term ultrasound means sound waves whose
frequency is higher than what the human ears can perceive.
3. Ultrasound is like x-ray
This is not true. It’s a lie
from the pit of hell. Ultrasound is not the same as x-ray. While x-ray is beam
of electromagnetic radiation, ultrasound is simply sound waves of higher
frequencies than the human ears can perceive. Ultrasound has no known effect on
your baby or on anyone. Only mild heat that may emanate from rubbing the
handheld probe over your tummy or body has no negative impact.
4.
Ultrasound
scan is not accurate
This is yet another myth. You
need to understand that the ultrasound equipment is operator dependent. The
quality of results obtained from it is directly proportional to the level of
training, dexterity and experience of its operator. If you purchase a brand new
Rose-Royce and hand it over to an armature, I bet you, it will end up
the bush. Here in Nigeria, there are lots of ultrasound centers where the personnel in-charge are graduates of courses like biochemistry,
microbiology, medical laboratory science and these are the persons operating the ultrasound equipment. So, what do you
expect? Inconsistencies? Yes! Inaccuracies? Yes!
5. No point doing a scan when your
pregnancy is yet early
This ideology is wrong. It has
cost women more pain than they were willing to bear; more money than they were
willing to spend, and more psychological trauma than they were willing to go
through. It’s a very serious issue. It is safer to go for a pelvic scan as soon
as you miss your period, or you discover you are pregnant. The reason for this is to ascertain the exact
location of your pregnancy: in the uterus, fallopian tube or in the
abdomen. The existence of pregnancy in any other location other than the uterus
is a time bomb, capable of claiming a life if not discovered early enough.
 |
| 4D image showing a baby's face Source: Ryan |
6. A second baby could hide somewhere else
that scan would not see it
This is a cruel lie as this should not happen. The truth is, if you have a transparent nylon containing
water and a one, two, three or even six tadpoles, is it possible for a tadpole
to hide behind another such that you wouldn’t see it? I think the answer is a
simple NO! having a trained hand operating the equipment, it’s quite easy to
determine the exact number of fetal pole(s) (baby or babies) in the gestation
sac.
7. Scan is only important for gender
determination
The answer is a capital NO!
Gender determination is only a very minute aspect of obstetrics scan, let alone
its great role in examining other parts of the body where it can be applied.
8. Frequent scan can retard normal growth
of my unborn baby, or deform it
This is not true as sound wave is not toxic or dangerous to human health, and cannot retard or deform your baby.
9. Transvaginal scan (TVS) causes miscarriages
Transvaginal probe is about
12-15cm long, including it's handle. It is inserted into the vagina and stops
advancing when it gets to the beginning of the cervix called the external os. The
distance between the external and the internal os is the cervix which is about 3-5cm in length. So,
the TVS probe ends up at the vagina does not get to your baby. I can assure you
that with a TVS done on you, obtaining a more accurate result is sure and you need not get scared of a consequent miscarriage.
10. You can’t do an ultrasound scan until a
see a doctor
This is not also true. You can see a sonographer privately and get it done. We
are in the age of information; you need not remain ignorant of anything except such things you choose not to know. Whether in a hospital or a stand-alone
diagnostic center, you may decide to walk in and talk to the sonographer in the
house regarding your interest, say pregnancy (obstetrics) scan, breast scan,
thyroid scan, your baby’s gender determination and so on. It’s private. You
have the right to do a private ultrasound examination whenever you wish.
11. Submitting to do a scan is dishonoring
to God Almighty
Some extremists have opined
that trying to get information of a baby before birth is a taboo. While I respect
individual belief system, I dear say that knowledge is cheap, and ignorance is more expensive. In this age, it’s a choice to remain ignorant of anything. If someone
decides to be, so be it. Doing a scan is not a sin.
Please,
as much as possible, ignore these fake news spread by persons who, though are non
professionals on the issue of discuss, are quick to utter things they
are not sure of. They may lead you astray. Beware!
Comments