Word parts
What it means
A painless scan in which a probe with gel on the skin sends sound waves into the body and turns the echoes into a picture on a screen. It uses no radiation, so it is the usual scan in pregnancy. It is also used to look at the heart (echocardiogram), blood vessels, the belly and pelvis, and to guide needles and IV lines. A bladder scanner is a small ultrasound that measures urine in the bladder.
For the nurse
Explain that the gel feels cool and the test does not hurt. Some scans need preparation: a pelvic ultrasound may need a full bladder, and some belly scans need the client to fast first, so check the order.
In a chart
"Bladder scan shows 650 mL post-void; provider notified."
At a glance
| Spanish | ecografía, ultrasonido |
|---|---|
| Also written | sonogram, ultrasonography, ultrasounds |
Related terms
urinary retention
Being unable to empty the bladder completely, or at all.
computed tomography
An imaging test that uses x-rays and a computer to make cross-section pictures of the inside of the body.
magnetic resonance imaging
An imaging test that uses a strong magnet and radio waves to make detailed pictures of the inside of the body.
x-ray
A picture of the inside of the body made with a small dose of radiation; also called a radiograph.