Pediatric Ultrasounds

During an abdomen ultrasound, the patient will need to expose the belly area. Towels will be tucked into their shirt and pants to protect their clothes from the ultrasound gel. They will be laying on their back for the majority of the ultrasound.

For infants, the sonographer may ask the parent/guardian to hold the patient to their chest for parts of the ultrasound.

This ultrasound will last approximately 20-30 minutes.

The patient must be fasting for an abdomen ultrasound.

• Ages 0-2 years: omit last feed

• Ages 3-9 years: Nothing to eat of drink for 4 hours prior to appointment. Small sips of water are allowed.

• Ages 10+ years: Nothing to eat or drink from midnight the night before the appointment. These appointments will be booked in the morning unless specifically requested by the patient/parent/guardian.

Please arrive 10 minutes early with the patient's Alberta Healthcare card (or other provincial healthcare card) and their requisition if you were given a copy.

During an abdomen ultrasound for pyloric stenosis, the patient will need to expose the belly area. Towels will be tucked into their shirt and pants to protect their clothes from the ultrasound gel. The patient will be laying on their back.

The parent/guardian should be prepared to feed the patient half way through the exam.

This ultrasound will last approximately 20-30 minutes.

The parent/guardian must omit the patient's last feed prior to the appointment, but should be prepared to feed the patient half way through the exam.

Please arrive 10 minutes early with the patient's Alberta Healthcare card (or other provincial healthcare card) and their requisition if you were given a copy.

During a pelvis ultrasound, the patient needs to expose the belly area. Towels will be tucked into their shirt and pants to protect their clothes from the ultrasound gel. The patient will be laying on their back for the majority of the ultrasound.

For infants, the sonographer may ask the parent/guardian to hold the patient to their chest for parts of the ultrasound.

This ultrasound will last approximately 20-30 minutes.

Ages 0-3 years: There is no preparation for a pelvis or renal ultrasound for patients in this age range.

Ages 4-6 years: The patient must attempt to have a full bladder for a pelvis ultrasound. The patient should empty their bladder approximately 60 minutes prior to the appointment time, then drink 1-2 glasses of water or apple juice. The patient should try not to empty their bladder until the sonographer allows them to.

Ages 7-12 years : The patient must have a full bladder for a pelvis ultrasound. The patient should empty their bladder approximately 90 minutes prior to the appointment time, then drink approximately 500-750mL of water and have the water finished by 60 minutes prior to the appointment time. If the bladder is not full we may be required to cancel and reschedule the appointment.

Ages 13+ years: The patient must have a full bladder for a pelvis ultrasound. The patient should empty their bladder approximately 90 minutes prior to the appointment time, then drink approximately 1L of water and have the water finished by 60 minutes prior to the appointment time. If the bladder is not full we may be required to cancel and reschedule the appointment.

Please arrive 10 minutes early with the patient's Alberta Healthcare card (or other provincial healthcare card) and their requisition if you were given a copy.

See the respective pages for this information:

Thyroid

Neck

Scrotum

Lump

Peripheral vascular

Carotid

There is no preparation required for these ultrasounds.

Please arrive 10 minutes early with the patient's Alberta Healthcare card (or other provincial healthcare card) and their requisition if you were given a copy.

**At this time we are only able to perform pediatric echocardiograms on patients 5 years of age and older.

During an echocardiogram, the technologist will require access to different areas of the patient's chest and upper abdomen. The patient will need to remove all clothing from the waist up. The patient may be laying on their back and/or left side throughout the ultrasound.

This ultrasound will last approximately 40-50 minutes.

There is no preparation required for an echocardiogram.

Please arrive 10 minutes early with the patient's Alberta Healthcare card (or other provincial healthcare card) and their requisition if you were given a copy.

During a neonatal cranial ultrasound, the patient's head must be exposed. The patient may lay on their back or their belly.

This ultrasound will last approximately 20-30 minutes.

There is no preparation required for a neonatal cranial ultrasound.

Please arrive 10 minutes early with the patient's Alberta Healthcare card (or other provincial healthcare card) and their requisition if you were given a copy.

During a spine ultrasound, the patient needs to expose their back. Towels will be tucked into the patient's shirt and pants to protect the clothes from the ultrasound gel. The patient will be laying on their belly.

For infants, the sonographer may ask the parent/guardian to hold the patient to their chest for parts of the ultrasound.

This ultrasound will last approximately 20-30 minutes.

There is no preparation required for a spine ultrasound.

Please arrive 10 minutes early with the patient's Alberta Healthcare card (or other provincial healthcare card) and their requisition if you were given a copy.