Urinary tract ultrasound
Ultrasound of the urinary tract involves the use of an ultrasound probe to image parts of the urinary tract. The urinary tract is the path that urine follows after it is formed within the kidneys, and involves a left and right ureter, the bladder, and the urethra. Procedure. Ultrasound involves a probe that is placed near a structure and uses the transmission of ultrasound waves through a structure to produce images, after computer processing. Ultrasound of the urinary tract is performed by a probe placed on the abdominal wall, called a transducer. This occurs while a person  is lying down. It is then moved around to better visualise different parts of the urinary tract. Gel is used on the abdominal wall, allowing smooth movement and improve sound conduction. The images are usually taken by a trained ultrasonographer, and then reported by a specialist radiologist. Prior to the test, a medical practitioner will have conducted a medical history to evaluate for symptoms that may relate to the urinary tract. Before the exam, the person will need to drink three glasses of water (about 500 ml) at least one hour before the exam. If the person is on fluid  restriction diet (due to heart, liver or kidney problems), then he can ignore the instruction. If there is a urinary catheter, the catheter should be clamped immediately after drinking the water. The person should not pass any urine until the scan is over. If the urinary bladder is the subject of interest, a person will be asked to pass urine and the amount of urine left in the bladder may be recorded. Uses. For imaging of the urinary tract it may involve: The symptoms that a person may experience that cause the test to be requested may be blood in  the urine, abdominal pain, abdominal kidney function tests, and frequent urinary tract infections (of which symptoms may include the need to pass urine frequently, pain on urination, and worsening urinary incontinence). Risks. Ultrasound is non-invasive and does not involve radiation, unlike some methods of imaging of the urinary tract such as X-rays or CT scans. It is usually painless. It is safe in pregnancy. Risks specific to the scan involve: Abdominal obesity, gas within the colon, and barium within the intestines can all impact the accuracy of the test. Other tests. Other tests are available to image the  urinary tract. These include X-rays, CT scans or MRI scans.