CT Scan - TBRHSC

On arrival please inform the technologist if you are a diabetic patient taking the medication “metformin.”
If you think you might be pregnant you must inform the technologist.
Do not wear jewelry to your appointment. For body scans clothing without metal zippers is best.
If your physician gives you any papers or x-rays, ultra sound, or MRI films, please bring them with you. These are necessary for the proper interpretation of your scan. We will return them after your scan is reported.
The C.T. Scan Department is, often, very busy. Every attempt is made to remain on schedule. But, when emergencies arise this is not always possible. If this should occur, your scan will be done as soon as possible afterwards.
Unless a patient requires constant care due to their medical condition or their age, family members are not allowed in the scanner room.
Children may not be left unattended in the Waiting Room.

Preparation

The technologist will explain the test to you and answer any questions that you may have. Quite
often a patient will require an injection of I.V. Contrast, or X-Ray “dye”, for this test. This injection may be required by our radiologist to highlight certain parts of your body. You will be asked to sign a consent form. The technologist will then have you lie down on the scanner bed and inject the I.V. Contrast into a vein, usually in your arm.
You may take medications as usual. After the injection of the contrast agent, you may feel warm and flushed or have a metallic or salty taste in your mouth or feel nauseated. This will go away after a few minutes.

Head, Chest, and Neck Scans:

Do not eat or drink anything for 3 hours prior to your appointment time. Once you are taken into the C.T. Scan room your test will take from 10 to 20 minutes.

Abdomen and Pelvis:

Do not eat or drink anything for 3 hours prior to your appointment time. When you arrive, you will be given 2-3 large drinks of oral contrast that is needed to distinguish the stomach and small bowel from your other organs. You must wait for 30 minutes to 1 hour for the oral contrast to travel through the small bowel. Once you enter the CT Scan room, your test will take from 15 to 30 minutes.

Spines and Extremities:

Procedure

You may be asked to change into a hospital gown and to remove any jewelry that is in the
scanned area. For some head and neck scans dentures will need to be removed.
You may be asked by the technologist to lie still and hold your breath during the scan. This is to minimize any movement on your pictures.

Following your CT Scan