Rao Hospital, Coimbatore recently organized a virtual interactive session on Modern Ultrasound Imaging and how it is useful in observing what is happening inside the human body and with diagnosing various ailments in the field of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Dr.Damodar Rao, Associate Director and Sr.Consultant in Gynaec Laparoscopy and Fertility along with Dr.Padmashri, Sr.Consultant – Sonology and Fertility, Rao Hospital conveyed the uses and benefits of ultrasound to the live viewers who connected via Facebook and answered their questions related to health.
A Brief look at the Origins
Dr.Damodar Rao conveyed that ultrasound techniques, like RADAR and SONAR were initially used in ships to detect objects that were far away. An English physician named Ian Donald pioneered in the diagnostic use of ultrasound in the field of obstetrics in the latter parts of 1950s which enabled the visual discovery of abnormalities in pregnancy.
The Evolution
He said that with the evolution in technology, we can now see the blood-flow of the baby while it is in the mother’s womb. Using 3D and 4D Ultrasound, we can see the growth of baby, its organs and with the latest advancements, we can do non-invasive surgeries and minor surgeries on babies even when they are inside the uterus.
He highlighted how this technique has turned very useful for the mother and child during pregnancy to the viewers in a clear fashion. Ultrasound is not just beneficial for pregnancy, but also used to make other diagnosis of problems in the female reproductive organ such as ovulatory problems relating to fertility issues, fibroids, and many more gynaecological pathologies. Dr.Damodar also mentioned that along with advanced technology, it is also the skill and expertise of the sonologist that plays a vital role in correct diagnosis, and Rao Hospital is fortunate to have Dr.Padmashri heading the Imaging department.
Ultrasound – a safe diagnostic tool
Dr.Padmashri who is a renowned Sonologist in Coimbatore said that we live in an era of evidence based medicine and we need definitive diagnosis to offer solutions to ailments at the earliest. She said while there are many other imaging options available today like X-Ray, CT, MRI; Ultrasound technique is quite safe and affordable than the other options.
She emphasized that ultrasound does not give away any ionizing radiation when it penetrates the body of the patient while the same cannot be said the same cannot be said with other imaging techniques. She conveyed the basic principle behind the working of ultrasounds.
How it works?
A gel is applied on the part of the body where the ultrasound scanning has to be made. The probe connected to the ultrasound machine transmits high-frequency (1 to 5 megahertz) sound pulses into the patient’s body.
The sound waves travel into the body and hits a boundary between tissues (e.g. between fluid and soft tissue, soft tissue and bone).
Some of the sound waves get reflected back to the probe, while some travel on further until they reach another boundary and get reflected. When the waves return, they are converted as images in the machine.
At Rao Hospital
Dr.Padmashri conveyed that Dr.Asha Rao, the Medical Director of Rao Hospital has provided state of the art Ultrasound Scan Equipment to the hospital which has proved to be highly beneficial for diagnosing patients.
“The equipment we use at Rao Hospital is like a higher-end sophisticated smartphone. It has all the top-class features to give precise images. With it we can detect the early stages of certain diseases”, Dr.Padmashri said.
Ultrasound’s many uses
Ultrasound is not just used in obstetrics, it is also useful in abdominal and breast lumps. It is also useful in examining structures like the gallbladder, bile ducts, liver, pancreas, spleen, kidneys and large blood vessels.
Following the speeches, Dr.Damodar Rao and Dr.Padmashri took questions from the viewers and gave answers.