What Are The Risks Involved With Ultrasound Scans?

Although ultrasound was first discovered in the 1800s, medical ultrasound was not introduced as a practical application until the 1950s. Today, ultrasound scans are most frequently used in the obstetric setting but are practical in many other medical areas as well. The safety and ease of use has made these machines a lasting diagnostic tool in the medical community.

History of the Medical Ultrasound

Two men are touted as being the founding fathers for traditional medical ultrasonography. Austrian Dr. Karl Theodore Dussik first used ultrasound to diagnose a brain tumour. Dr. Karl then published his findings, the first published article about medical ultrasound, in 1942. Some 15 years later, Professor Ian Donald developed the ultrasound machine, which used current technology for the time. This machine was first tested in 1957 and then used on the first pregnant woman in 1958.

How does it work?

An ultrasound scan produces pictures by using sound waves. These waves bounce off of the tissues in the body and back up to the transducer in order to produce the black-and-white picture on a computer screen.

Who can perform an Ultrasound?

Only those who are licensed as ultrasound technicians can perform one of these scans. Physicians are also permitted to perform an ultrasound as they received all of the necessary training during schooling.

Where on the body can Ultrasound be used?

Ultrasounds are most often used in obstetric applications to diagnose gestational age, estimate foetal weight and health, determine placental placement in the uterus and assist with diagnostic testing such as amniocentesis. The medical ultrasound has many other applications as well. It can be used to view anomalies in the abdomen, urinary tract, thyroid, breasts, heart and circulatory system.

How safe is an Ultrasound?

Ultrasound is used in a variety of medical applications because it is non-invasive and offers basically no risk to the patient. Ultrasound does create a bit of heat during the actual test. This heat is general only about one degree centigrade and is dissipated by the body rather easily.

Many studies have been conducted to examine the effects of ultrasound on a foetus after birth. One such study was conducted by the University of Western Australia. In this study, foetuses were exposed to as many as five different ultrasound tests throughout the gestational period. The end result of the study is that there was no developmental or physical effect on a child.

Other Considerations

Ultrasound scans are a tool used for diagnostic purposes in the medical community. For this reason, patients should never be afraid to ask questions. If something has not been explained to the satisfaction of the patient and/or family, request a different explanation or more information from another healthcare practitioner.

Since ultrasound was first used in the medical community it has been one of the most widely used pieces of diagnostic equipment still to this day. Ultrasound is very versatile and non-invasive which makes it highly popular amongst healthcare practitioners. There is virtually no risk to the patient who receives an ultrasound and no adverse effects on a foetus.

For further information on pregnancy, well being and ultrasound scans, visit Ultrasound Direct who provide pregnancy scans across a number of clinics throughout the UK.

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