A Win-Win Ultrasound Experience

When most people hear the word, “ultrasound,” they immediately picture a baby inside her mother’s body. However, doctors at Brookings Health System also use ultrasound imaging to examine other internal organs and to perform minimally invasive procedures in real-time.

Ultrasound, also referred to as sonography, bounces high-frequency sound waves off the body’s internal anatomy to create diagnostic images that help clinicians assess organ damage and illness without exposing patients to radiation. Physicians also use live ultrasound images to safely guide instrumentation during a medical procedure. 

For Rachel Janes, a local nurse who lives in Hetland, her radiologist used ultrasound so he could visualize and precisely guide a fine, thin needle to drain benign cysts she had in her breasts. The cysts showed up in two previous mammograms and an ultrasound. 

“[The cysts] do make self-examination difficult because you can feel them,” said Rachel. “So it’s confusing as to whether it’s a lump or what it is.”

The cysts also caused Rachel pain from time to time. She and her primary care physician decided to have them removed.

“I did find out the doctor that did my ultrasound and read my mammograms down in Sioux Falls actually comes up to Brookings,” said Rachel. 

To make it easy for Rachel, Dr. Patrick Nelson of Avera Medical Group Radiology Sioux Falls performed the same-day procedure, called ultrasound-guided cyst aspiration, at Brookings Hospital’s radiology department. During her procedure, the ultrasound team cared for Rachel with patience, understanding and reassurance. 

“Even though I’m in the medical field, it’s very different when you’re the patient,” said Rachel. “You have all these things running through your brain.”

Dr. Nelson also calmed Rachel’s fears and made sure she was comfortable during the procedure. 

“He was very patient, answered all of my questions and kept reassuring me that everything was going to be fine.”

Rachel especially appreciated the convenience of having her procedure performed locally. She didn’t need to travel and went right back to work that day.

“Sioux Falls is great, but it is a trek,” said Rachel. “To have to take extra time off of work and have that all lined up – just being able to come here, do it and have it be a quick in-and-out deal – you still get the same good results. That was a win-win.”

Want to hear more? Listen to Rachel’s full story online at brookingshealth.org/RachelJ.