Ultrasound Prep

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

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.

VFSS Prep

Pediatric Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study (VFSS)

Your child has been scheduled for a VFSS at the Lake of the Woods District Hospital (LWDH). Below you will find answers to many of the questions that you may have regarding a VFSS at the LWDH.

Where do I go for the VFSS?

The VFSS study is performed in the Diagnostic Imaging (DI) dept. which is located on the LWDH main floor. Report to the main entrance and the staff will direct you to the DI Dept. The LWDH is located at 21 Sylvan Street West in Kenora. Maps / Directions - Lake of the Woods District Hospital

What time should we arrive?

Pleas report to the main entrance desk 15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment.

Where can I park?

Parking is available on site in the out-patient or the visitor parking lot. Fees apply and can be paid with credit or debit cards.

What is a VFSS?

A Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study (VFSS) is a video X-ray study of how food moves from the mouth towards the stomach or lungs. The study requires the use of barium sulphate in the food in order to see it on X-ray.

What is barium sulphate?

It’s a white substance that’s mixed with food and liquids so they can be seen better on x-ray. It comes in a powder or liquid form and has a chalky taste. Chocolate or fruit flavours can be added.

Is the barium sulphate safe?

Yes, the barium sulphate mixture is very safe. Reactions are rare and usually mild.

Bad reactions are rare and only happen in every 1 out of every 1 million people given barium sulphate. The reactions include:

• * swelling of the upper airway
• * low blood pressure

While the mixture is safe, aspiration pneumonia is a risk. The doctor will speak with you about this risk.

Why does my child need a VFSS?

The study is done to check for problems with swallowing that may cause trouble with breathing or eating.

If you have questions about why your child is having the study done, be sure to talk to your doctor.

Who does the test?

The study is done by a radiologist (a doctor that specializes in reading x-rays) and a hospital  speech-language pathologist, and with members of the Firefly complex feeding and swallowing team present.

How long does the study take?

The study usually takes less than 5 to 30 minutes, but you’ll be here for about 1 hour. The rest of the time is to get your child and food ready and talk to you about the study afterwards.

Can I stay with my child?

Yes, as we would rather you feed the child. If you can’t be exposed to radiation (e.g., if you’re pregnant), we ask that another person familiar with feeding your child come with you. You can watch from behind a safe window and/or wear a lead shielding apron.

What do we need to do to get ready?

In order for the test to be as successful as possible, food and drink that are familiar and preferred by your child are best. So although food and drink and feeding utensils are available, we ask that you bring:

• * a liquid (formula, milk, or juice)
• * solids your child enjoys
• * solids your child finds harder to swallow
• * the utensils your child uses during feeding (nipples, bottles, cups, spoons, forks)

* the usual chair/equipment your child sits in to eat.  There are different chairs available depending on your child’s size and needs.

Please discuss the options for seating and utensils with the Firefly complex feeding and swallowing team prior to the study.

Don’t give your child anything to eat or drink for at least 2 hours before the test. We want your child to be hungry so he or she will take food during the study. You can bring something to distract your child, such as a toy or iPad.

What happens during the study?

Your child will sit in an upright support chair, preferably the chair they typically eat in.

You will feed your child while the x-ray video is running so the team can see what’s happening with the food as it moves through the mouth and down to the stomach.

What happens after the study?

Your child won’t eat the whole meal during the study. He or she will be able to eat more right after the test.

Barium can sometimes cause constipation. Children who have regular bowel movements may not have a problem passing the barium. You may notice some white barium mixed with the stool. Giving your child extra fluids will help the barium pass more easily.

Depending on the results of the study, your child may need a special feeding plan. Please discuss with the Firefly complex feeding and swallowing team and your doctor.

When should I call my doctor?

Call your doctor if your child has:

• * stomach cramps
• * trouble having bowel movements

What else do I need to know?

Please arrange child care if you have other children—please don’t bring them with you.

Questions?

If you have questions re the study, please speak with the Firefly feeding and swallowing team. If you have questions re the study date and time, or need to cancel your appointment, please call the DI Department at 807 468 9861 (2201)

Dec 2024

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.