Starship Foundation

Conditions, tests & treatments A-Z
Keeping your child well
Parent support
Support groups A-Z
Health Professionals

Renal (kidney) ultrasound (ultrasonography)


Disclaimer: This fact sheet is for educational use only. Please consult your doctor or other health professional to make sure this information is right for your child.

What is ultrasound (ultrasonography)?

Ultrasonography uses sound waves (ultrasound) rather than x-rays to create images of an object. These images are called scans. People usually refer to this test as an “ultrasound” even though the official name is “ultrasonography”.
 

 Back to Top

Why is my child having an ultrasound scan?

Ultrasound is very useful for looking at soft tissue parts of the body such as the kidneys and bladder. Soft tissues do not show up well on x-ray.
 
Your baby or child may have a renal ultrasound to:
  • find out if there are any blockages in the urinary tract (kidney, ureter, bladder and urethra)
  • check if their kidneys are normal in shape, size and position
  • look at the blood vessels in the kidneys
All babies and pre-school aged children with their first UTI (urinary tract infection) should have an ultrasound scan of their urinary tract (urethra, ureter, bladder and kidneys).
 

 Back to Top

Where is the test done?

The test is done in the x-ray (radiology) department of your hospital, or at another x-ray (radiology) centre.
 

 Back to Top

What happens during the test?

  • the bladder should be full for this study
    – children who have bladder control should not empty their bladder for two to three hours before the ultrasound scan
    – infants who do not have bladder control should have as much fluid as they can tolerate about 30 minutes before the ultrasound scans
  • your child lies on a bed and an ultrasound technologist (sonographer) or an x-ray doctor (radiologist) smoothes a little warm gel on your child’s skin and then slides a small instrument called a transducer (which looks a little like a microphone) over the area to be examined
  • this sends ultrasound, which cannot be heard by human ears, into the body
  • the sound waves cannot go through gas or bone so usually your child has to change positions on the bed during the study to get the best possible images
  • the sound waves are reflected by tissues in the body back to the transducer which converts them into an image of the body part
  • the images can be seen on a TV monitor during the study and they are recorded on video or x-ray film, or on a computer

 Back to Top

How does it feel?

This is a simple and painless test, much like the scans that women have during pregnancy. Please reassure your child that there is no pain involved.
 

 Back to Top

How can I prepare my child?

  • bring comforters or any toys that will reassure your child; a dummy (pacifier) for babies (if they normally suck on one) can be very soothing
  • see other suggestions in Helping your child manage their health care treatment / procedure
  • many hospitals have play specialists, whose job it is to help explain these tests to your child. Play specialists use play to show your child what is going to happen and ways to help them cope
  • you will be able to stay with your child for the test and your presence can help reassure them

 Back to Top

Are there any side effects from ultrasound?

There are no known harmful effects from ultrasound
 

 Back to Top

How do I find out the results?

The x-ray doctor (radiologist) will examine and interpret the ultrasound scans and make a written report to your doctor.
 
The information can often be provided to you immediately after the scans.
 

 Back to Top

Where to go for more information

Hospital Play Specialists Association
Play specialists may be able to advise you on how to help your child cope with their test or treatment.
Postal address: P O Box 26637, Epsom, Auckland.
 

 Back to Top

Acknowledgements

This fact sheet has been adapted from:
  • Starship Radiology Department. Starship Children's Health. 2004. Ultrasound examinations: Information for parents and families of children. 

 Back to Top

Your notes

Print this page

Endorsement

This fact sheet was endorsed by PSNZ - 27/06/2009

Copyright

Fact sheets are subject to copyright. In the interests of information sharing they may be copied but acknowledgement must be given to PSNZ and Starship Foundation.
© The Paediatric Society of New Zealand and Starship Foundation 2005 - 2010


The Paediatric Society of New Zealand
http://www.paediatrics.org.nz 		Starship Foundation
http://www.starship.org.nz