Preparation Requirements for Ultrasound Examinations
Abdomen - Liver and/or Pancreas / Gallbladder / General
• Nothing to eat/drink 12 hours prior to the exam.
Abdomen - Kidneys and/or Spleen
• No fasting required.
Abdomen and Pelvis (if both exams are being done)
• Nothing to eat/drink after midnight.
• One hour prior to appointment drink 40 ounces of water (4 large glasses) so that your bladder is full on arrival.
Pelvis
• It is important for the patient to have a full bladder. Patient should drink 40 ounces of water one hour prior to the examination.
• Bladder should not be emptied until after the examination.
Obstetrics/Gynecology
• First Trimester - Patient should drink 40 ounces of water one hour prior to the examination. Bladder should not be emptied until after the examination.
• Anatomy or Late Trimester Scan - No Prep required
There is no special preparation for the following procedures:
• Thyroid, Breast, Scrotum, Carotid, Cardiac
CT PrepIV and Oral
Preparation Requirements for CT and Oral:
With Contrast:
• If patient is receiving IV contrast they need to be NPO 4 hours prior to exam.
• If patient is receiving oral contrast they must arrive at least 1 hour prior to their appointment.
Without Contrast:
• Any CT examinations NOT requiring contrast injections do not need any special preparation.
CT Colonography Prep
Information Regarding Procedure:
The accuracy of the x-ray study of the colon by the CT colonography depends to a large degree on the care that is taken in preparing the colon for examination. The colon can be made free from fecal content by a combination of 4 procedures:
1. Selected low residue diet for several days
2. By hydration and lavation from drinking large amounts of fluid
3. By cathartics
4. By cleansing enemas.
Preparation:
In an effort to improve the quality of the CT colonography examinations and also to reduce the number of patients who must be prepared, the following colon cleansing protocol is recommended:
1. Before the colon examination a minimal residue for 3 days is preferable (if not possible, start as soon as the colon study is scheduled). The following foods are permitted:
• Strained fruit juices such as orange, apple, grapefruit, grape
• Cereal such as cream of wheat, farina or rice krispies
• Eggs any style
• Dry cottage cheese not creamed
• Meat such as canned baby meats, baked skinless fish, finely chopped canned tuna
• Macaroni, spaghetti, noodles or rice in clear broth or buttered if desired
• 1 to 2 Tbsp of oil, butter or margarine may be used daily if desired
• Sweets such as plain gelatin (Jello) desserts without added fruit or vegetables, moderate amount of sugar or strained honey, marshmallows, arrowroot or vanilla wafers or sugar wafers
• Moderate amount of seasonings
• Beverages such as clear broth or bouillon, tea, weak coffee or Sanka, carbonated beverages (cola drinks, 7-UP), Gatorade, Kool-aid or other synthetic drink mixes.
NOTE: NO BREAD, FRUIT, VEGETABLES OR MILK
2. The day before the examination drink fluids; at least one large 8 oz glass of water each hour from 11:00 am to 8:00 or 10:00 pm. For ALL meals a clear liquid diet starting with breakfast. The following foods are permitted:
• Synthetic juices, Kool-aid, Gatorade, carbonated beverages, weak coffee or Sanka, tea with sugar
• Clear broth
• Gelatin desserts (Jello without added fruits or vegetables)
• Modern amount of sugar
• Hard candies – lemon drop style.
3. The laxative (Picolax) provided is to be taken as follows:
• Adults: The contents of one sachet is dissolved in a cup of cold water, stir for 2 to 3 minutes. If it becomes hot, wait for it to cool. The first dose (1 sachet) is taken at 8:00 am on day before the exam, the 2nd sachet is taken between 2 – 4 pm on the day before exam.
*NOTHING TO EAT OR DRINK AFTER MIDNIGHT*
4. On the morning of the test, insert 1 Dulcolax suppository into the rectum 1 hour prior to leaving home for the hospital.
Mammography Prep
• If you experience tenderness in your breasts, absence from caffeine is recommended 2 weeks prior to the exam
• No deodorant, talcum powder or perfume on the day of the exam.
Barium Enema Prep
Information Regarding Procedure:
• During this procedure we will be looking at your large bowel. To do that, a tube will be inserted into your rectum and a balloon will be inflated at the end of the tube to help keep it in place.
• Through the tube the Radiologist will run Barium into your bowel.
• He will also be putting air into your bowel, which may cause some cramping.
• After the Barium and the air have been put into your bowel the Radiologist will take a series of x-rays.
• When he is finished taking all of his x-rays, he will leave the room and the x-ray technologist will take another series of x-rays.
• Once the technologist has checked to make sure that all the x-rays have turned out, then he/she will take the tube out and take you to the washroom.
• From start to finish the procedure takes between 20-30 minutes, unless the colon is not cleaned out properly. Thus, this may result in having to be sent to the emergency department for a cleansing enema before the procedure.
• If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to call your doctor.
The accuracy of the study of the colon by the Barium enema depends to a large degree on the care that is taken in preparing the colon for examination. The colon can be made free from fecal content by a combination of 4 procedures.
1. Select a low residue diet for several days.
2. By hydration and lavation from drinking large amounts of fluid.
3. By cathartics.
4. By cleansing enemas.
Preparation:
In an effort to improve the quality of the Barium enema examination and also to reduce the number of patients who must be prepared, the following colon cleansing protocol is recommended:
1. Before the colon examination a minimal residue diet for 3 days is preferable. If not possible, start as soon as the colon study is scheduled. The following foods are permitted:
• Strained fruit juices such as orange, apple, grapefruit, grape
• Cereal such as cream of wheat, farina or Rice Krispies
• Eggs, any style
• Dry cottage cheese (not creamed)
• Meat, such as canned baby food meats, baked skinless fish, finely chopped canned tuna
• Macaroni, spaghetti, noodles or rice in clear broth or buttered if desired
• One to two tbsp. of oil, butter or margarine may be used daily if desired
• Sweets such as plain gelatin (Jello) desserts without added fruit or vegetables, moderate amount of sugar or strained honey, marshmallows, Arrowroot or vanilla wafers or sugar wafers
• Moderate amounts of seasonings
• Beverages such as clear broth or bouillon, tea, weak coffee or Sanka, carbonated beverages (cola drinks, 7-up), Gatorade, Kool-aid or other synthetic drink mixes
• NO bread, fruit, vegetables or milk
2. The day before the examination drink fluids: at least one large 8 ounce glass of water each hour from 11:00am to 8:00 or 10:00pm. For all meals, a clear liquid diet starting with breakfast. The following foods are permitted:
• Synthetic juices, (Kool-aid, Gatorade, carbonated beverages, weak coffee or Sanka, tea with sugar)
• Clear broth
• Gelatin desserts (Jello without added fruits or vegetables)
• Moderate amount of sugar
• Hard candies – lemon drop style
3. The laxative (PICOLAX) provided are to be taken as follows:
Adults: The contents of one sachet are dissolved in a cup of cold water; stir for 2-3 minutes. If it becomes hot, wait for it to cool.
• The first dose (1 sachet) is taken at 8:00am on the day prior to the exam.
• The 2nd sachet is taken between 2-4pm on the day prior to the exam.
*Nothing to eat or drink after midnight.
Barium Gastric Prep
Esophagus, GI Series, Barium Meal, Small Bowel Series
There is no standard or routine preparation which is suitable to all patients. Modifications are required, depending upon the conditions of the patient. Unless otherwise advised by the attending physician, follow the directions described below.
Diabetes
The Diagnostic Imaging department should be notified if a diabetic patient requires an examination which involves fasting. The department will then perform this examination before others, thus lessening the patient's discomfort.
Patient Preparation
NPO 12 hours prior to appointment.
