Is fasting a necessary preparation for abdominal ultrasound?

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of fasting on the technical success of abdominal ultrasound examination. METHODS: In a randomized, prospective study, 150 patients for abdominal ultrasound were divided into two groups of 75 patients each with instructions to fast for six hours or have normal breakfast respectively. RESULT: The technical success of the abdominal ultrasound performed by radiologists blinded to the instruction did not differ significantly between the groups. CONCLUSION: It appears that routine fasting before abdominal ultrasound is not necessary.