ULTRASOUND-ONLY REFERRALS
Ultrasonography can offer important structural and functional information and is particularly useful to investigate abdominal disorders. Ultrasound-only referrals are primarily aimed at patients with a chronic disease, where a full referral is not possible, e.g. due to financial constraints. The examinations are performed by one of our imaging specialists on an out-patient basis. The results are communicated directly to the primary care veterinary surgeon.
Notes for Vets
To optimise the information gained from the ultrasound examination, it is important that we receive the relevant recent case history, laboratory results and a completed ‘Ultrasound only referral form’ prior to the appointment. We will then confirm the appointment with you and send an information pack directly to the client.
The patient must be clinically stable and fit to travel. Please advise the owner to starve their pet from 8pm the night before the appointment. Please note that ultrasound-only examinations are performed conscious or under light sedation on an out-patient basis and so interventional procedures (e.g. needle biopsy, FNA) other than cystocentesis will not be possible.
We will provide a written report by fax and post, and where possible we will speak to you directly to discuss the results. If a cystocentesis has been taken, laboratory results will be faxed to your practice as soon as we receive them (usually 3-4 days).
Notes for Owners
Ultrasound appointments can be booked on Mondays and Fridays from 10.00 am. You will need to starve your pet from 8 pm the evening before the examination, as gas and food within the gastro-intestinal tract can interfere with the examination. You can provide water up until your appointment time. Your pet is likely to be with us for 1-1 ½ hours and you will be required to wait during this time.
In most cases, we will be able to examine your pet without sedation. However, if he/she is stressed, painful or aggressive, sedation may be required and additional charges will apply.
As different diseases may result in similar ultrasonographic findings the results are best interpreted by your primary-care veterinary surgeon who will have full access to your pet's history, clinical examination findings and laboratory results. Therefore it is not possible for us to discuss the results of the examination directly with you. We will generally fax the ultrasound report to your practice the same day.
Payment will be required in full at the time of examination.
What is the difference between a standard referral and an ultrasound-only referral?
With a standard referral an appointment is made with one of our specialist clinicians who will review the patient's history, examine them and then advise on and implement the most appropriate investigations and/or treatment. With an ultrasound-only referral, the primary-care veterinary surgeon remains responsible for case management including further treatment decisions. We will perform the ultrasound examination and provide a detailed ultrasound report including the diagnosis, or a list of the most likely differential diagnoses for any identified abnormalities. However, as the patient is directly referred to our diagnostic imaging department, it is not possible to provide further clinical advice, e.g. regarding further treatment, in this report.
If an owner wishes to have an examination by one of our specialists in internal medicine or surgery after the ultrasound examination, a full referral has to be arranged on a separate occasion and the usual charges will apply.
If you have any further questions regarding an ultrasound only referral, please contact us on 01962 767920 or via e.mail.
