Saline perfusion and ultrasound hysterography procedures

Doctors ordered saline infusion sonography (SIS), also known as ultrasound hysterography, SHG or water ultrasound, as a diagnostic tool for examining intrauterine problems. Saline perfusion ultrasound is a slightly more sophisticated version of transvaginal ultrasound. It is the preferred imaging examination for evaluating female pelvic and reproductive structures, because it provides valuable information, but it is safe, relatively inexpensive, and does not require Selenium ion radiation. It has dangerous side effects. The difference between standard transvaginal ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound is that for contrast-enhanced ultrasound, the uterus is filled with sterile fluid before examination, which provides better endometrial images than ultrasound alone.

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class a nurse sits in front of an ultrasound machine. (Image: monkeybusiness images/istock/getty images)

Purpose

When your doctor wants to evaluate the endometrium (medically known as endometrium) to determine the causes of abnormal vaginal bleeding, infertility or repeated abortion, saline infusion ultrasound can greatly increase the acquisition of conventional transvaginal ultrasound. Information obtained. This test can identify several different problems, such as uterine fibroids, endometrial polyps, pregnancy residues or congenital abnormalities, such as abnormal uterine shape.

Preparation method: Most medical providers carry out cervical culture several days or weeks before normal saline perfusion ultrasound examination to check cervical infection. Your doctor places a small catheter through the cervix to fill the uterus with fluid. In theory, the catheter can transmit existing cervical infections to the uterus, so many doctors prescribe prophylactic antibiotics before and after the examination. Even with antibiotics, infection or other complications may occur after saline perfusion ultrasound examination, but the risk is very small, less than 1%.

procedure

To perform saline perfusion ultrasound examination, the doctor first injects sterile liquid into the uterus by inserting sterile catheters into the vagina and cervix. He then placed the ultrasound probe in the vagina, which is the closest to the genital organ and provides the most accurate image. The detector emits sound waves at frequencies that are inaudible to the human ear. Most transvaginal ultrasonography takes less than 10 minutes; saline perfusion ultrasonography is usually not much longer than this.

After testing, although you usually don't feel too much pain during saline perfusion ultrasound examination, you may feel some discomfort and often feel obvious cramps. In addition to the discomfort caused by the placement of endoscopes and transvaginal ultrasound probes, many women experience painful menstrual spasms when fluids enter and dilate the uterus. Taking over-the-counter painkillers, such as ibuprofen, or even antianxiety drugs one to two hours before surgery can help reduce discomfort. After surgery, you usually have no movement restrictions, but mild cramps and bleeding usually occur within a few days after the examination. If you have a fever, severe or persistent pain, or severe or persistent bleeding after saline perfusion ultrasound, please call your medical service provider to discuss your symptoms.

Result Saline perfusion ultrasonography is generally considered as a good screening method for endometrial abnormalities. It can capture abnormalities in the uterus, but it cannot distinguish one abnormality, such as fibroma, from another, such as polyps. In addition, although this test is very reliable in detecting anomalies (if they do exist), false positive readings may occur, which indicates that problems occur when it is not &39; T. If your provider interprets your test results as normal, subsequent imaging is usually not required. If the sonogram of saline infusion is abnormal, she would recommend a clearer, usually more invasive examination, such as hysteroscopy, to verify the sonographic results of saline infusion.