Ultrasound examination of the kidneys, diagnosis and possible contraindications

Ultrasound examination of the kidneys is a modern and effective method of examination, which allows to reveal many renal lesions.

Ultrasound is a reliable way to detect cysts, stones, tumors and other abnormalities of the organ.

Types of

examination This diagnostic method can be implemented in the form of ultrasound urography and ultrasound dopplerography.

The ultrasonic echography method is used to diagnose pathological changes in the renal parenchyma, topography disorders, the presence of stones and other malignant or benign neoplasms. The examination takes as a basis the possibility of ultrasonic waves to reflect from the tissues of organs that have different densities, and also freely penetrate through the liquid medium.

The state of blood flow in the vessels of the kidneys helps to evaluate ultrasound doppler ultrasound or ultrasound examination of the kidney vessels. The implementation is based on the Doppler effect, which consists in the fact that the frequencies of ultrasonic waves that are reflected from the blood elements are different from the frequency of the ultrasonic waves emitted by the apparatus itself. Automated process of processing differences between frequencies helps to display the received information on the display in the form of special graphs on the monitor display.

Visual analysis of the obtained image provides an opportunity to evaluate the direction of the circulation. The presence of changes in the bloodstream in the form of turbulence or laminar blood flow is indicated by a special sound signal that is recorded simultaneously with the pictures.

Indications for examination

Before starting preparation for diagnosis it is necessary to establish that the study is required as a result of the manifestation of the corresponding symptoms, supplementing a variety of renal pathologies. Ultrasound examination is required in the following cases:

• frequent headaches accompanied by high blood pressure;
• formation of peripheral edema, puffiness of the face, pastosity of the eyelids, edema of the legs;
• the presence of pain in the lumbar region and urination disorders.

All of these signs are manifested when the kidneys are affected, which can be detected by ultrasound. In addition to this examination, some laboratory tests of urine and blood may be required, such as:

• general blood tests;
• biochemical blood tests to determine the concentration of protein in it, the concentration of urea, fibrin, creatinine and other substances;
• general urinalysis;
• urine tests for Zimnitsky and urine tests for Nechiporenko.

Examination of

Ultrasound examination is completely painless and takes no more than half an hour, can be realized in the sitting position, in the position of lying or standing. Special preparatory measures for the diagnosis will not be required, since the kidneys are well visualized.

The kidneys are examined by a special abdominal ultrasound sensor in longitudinal, parallel, transverse and oblique sections from the front of the abdomen or from the back, and also in the patient's lying on the side, that is, in the frontal plane.

It is believed that ultrasound examination of the kidneys does not have any contraindications, but this is not entirely true. Minimal contraindications are found, but it is rare. The main contraindication to the realization of ultrasound of the kidneys is the presence of open wounds, an X-ray examination with barium less than one day before the ultrasound.

Only a highly qualified specialist in the treatment of urological pathologies has the right to perform ultrasound diagnosis of the kidneys and not cause harm to the patient. The doctor will be able to correctly decipher the obtained pictures after the examination, and subsequently offer the patient a suitable tactic for the implementation of the treatment.