Abstract
ObjectiveTo study the effect of fasting on the technical success of abdominal ultrasound examination.MethodsIn a randomized, prospective study, 150 patients for abdominal ultrasound were divided into two groups of 75 patients each with instructions to fast for six hours or have normal breakfast respectively.ResultThe technical success of the abdominal ultrasound performed by radiologists blinded to the instruction did not differ significantly between the groups.ConclusionIt appears that routine fasting before abdominal ultrasound is not necessary.
Highlights
Optimum conditions for the ultrasonic examination of the abdominal organs require a fluid-filled gall bladder and as little gas in the gastrointestinal tract as possible [1]
The envelopes were stored in the reception until the study was completed, when the radiologists' record of each examination was decoded against the numbered envelopes
The single unacceptable score for the gall bladder was in a patient with a contracted gall bladder who failed to return for a repeat study
Summary
Optimum conditions for the ultrasonic examination of the abdominal organs require a fluid-filled gall bladder and as little gas in the gastrointestinal tract as possible [1]. In addition the thin patient is easier to examine than the fat patient since higher-frequency transducers can be used which improve resolution. Most ultrasound (US) departments instruct their patients to come fasting for such examinations, sometimes for as long as 12 hours, assuming that the gall bladder would otherwise be contracted and difficult to assess and that fasting patients will have less gas in the duodenum & colon. Some investigations have found a barium meal or upper gastrointestinal series does not interfere with abdominal US the US images, especially of the liver and gall bladder [3,4] were poor after barium enema
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