CT Abdomen and Pelvis

• Routinely requires IV contrast
• Usually requires oral contrast
• Best for solid organs of the abdomen, retroperitoneal areas, ascites and intraperitoneal areas, appendix

Preparation

1. Please arrive at least 1 hour prior to appointment to allow time to drink the oral contrast drink.
2. nothing to eat for 3 hours prior to appointment
3. blood test (creatinine and eGFR) within 3 months of examination appointment
4. withhold metformin 24 hours prior to procedure and 48 hours after procedure and a blood test (creatinine) 1-2 days after procedure if there is renal impairment.

• Requires IV contrast
• Specifically designed to investigate pancreatic diseases in detail

Preparation

1. Please arrive at least 1 hour prior to appointment to allow time to drink the oral contrast drink.
2. nothing to eat for 3 hours prior to appointment
3. blood test (creatinine and eGFR) within 3 months of examination appointment
4. withhold metformin 24 hours prior to procedure and 48 hours after procedure and a blood test (creatinine) 1-2 days after procedure if there is renal impairment.

• Requires IV contrast
• Multiple sequences to specifically investigate liver lesions in detail

Preparation

1. Please arrive at least 1 hour prior to appointment to allow time to drink the oral contrast drink.
2. nothing to eat for 3 hours prior to appointment
3. blood test (creatinine and eGFR) within 3 months of examination appointment
4. withhold metformin 24 hours prior to procedure and 48 hours after procedure and a blood test (creatinine) 1-2 days after procedure if there is renal impairment.

• Uses IV contrast
• Best for renal parenchymal diseases, ureteric lesions, bladder lesions (also includes the CT KUB sequence, so can detect calculi confidently)

Preparation

• Please arrive at least 1 hour prior to appointment to allow time to drink the water drink.
• nothing to eat for 3 hours prior to appointment
• blood test (creatinine and eGFR) within 3 months of examination appointment
• withhold metformin 24 hours prior to procedure and 48 hours after procedure and a blood test (creatinine) 1-2 days after procedure if there is renal impairment.

• Non contrast
• For detection and monitoring renal system calculi (in the kidneys, ureters and bladder)
• Low dose CT

Preparation

No preparation required

• CT Colonography (may not be available at this time. Please check with reception staff.)
• Does not require IV contrast
• Requires oral contrast and bowel preparation the night before the test

Diet 

Clear liquid diet for the 24 hours before the examination, no solid foods

THE DAY BEFORE THE EXAMINATION

1. 11am – 2 bisacodyl tablets (5mg each) with one glass of water
2. Between 2pm and 6pm – 1 x 296ml magnesium citrate
3. Between 5pm and 9pm – 1 x 296ml magnesium citrate
4. Between 5pm and 9pm – 250ml oral barium suspension (2.1%)
5. Then 0.5 – 1.0litres water to drink
6. Between 8pm and 11pm – 60ml iodinated hyperosmolar contrast
7. Then 1 glass of water to drink

ON THE DAY OF THE EXAMINATION

1. Nil by mouth until after the examination

If you have trouble completing this preparation or have had trouble completing this preparation in the past, please let the front desk or xray staff know.

During the examination, a thin plastic catheter will be placed in the rectum to instill gas in a controlled monitored way.

The scan usually takes 5-10 minutes in total.

• Requires IV contrast
• Specifically distinguishes between metastatic adrenal lesions and benign (adenomatous) adrenal lesions.

Preparation

1. nothing to eat for 3 hours prior to appointment
2. blood test (creatinine and eGFR) within 3 months of examination appointment
3. withhold metformin 24 hours prior to procedure and 48 hours after procedure and a blood test (creatinine) 1-2 days after procedure if there is renal impairment.

CT enterography/enteroclysis (not available at this time)

Specifically examines the small bowel wall. Can detect abnormalities in the mucosa, the bowel wall, or areas outside and around the small bowel.

Preparation

Preparation for the examination is important, since it will greatly improve the amount of information we can obtain from the test. If the preparation is not performed, the test can be severely limited.

At least a few days before the examination we ask you to come into the SMI rooms to pick up bowel preparation. This will involve taking a laxative the day before the examination.

You should also have a low residue diet for 2 days before the examination. However during this time we ask that you drink ample fluid, preferably more that you would on a normal day.

You should not eat anything on the day of the examination. We will try to schedule the examination in the morning so that you will not have to go without food for the whole day.

You will be given a drink to drink before the CT test. You should take your time drinking this, which should take between 45 and 60 minutes.

IV contrast will be given to you during this examination.

CT colangiogram (not available at this time)

This test involves injection of Biliscopin, a specialised injection that is secreted in the bile and opacifies the bile ducts (makes the bile ducts easy to see on the CT scan).

Preprocedure preparation

Please fast from midnight until your examination time.

The Biliscopin is injected into a vein, usually at your elbow, via a drip that runs for about 45-60 minutes.

Risks and possible complications

The risks associated with IV cannulation

• Bruising
• Extravasation
• Infection
• Pain

The risks associated with CT scan radiation

Risk of developing cancer – reduced do to new technology which markedly lowers the radiation dose for our CT.

The risks associated with Biliscopin injection

Common but not serious

• Warm flush
• Metallic taste

Uncommon

• Allergy (mild) – Facial swelling, itchy eyes, cough, runny nose, sneezing , hives
• Allergy (severe) – Vomiting, difficulty breathing, violent yawning, cough, headache, stomach pain
• Reduced function of kidneys, liver, heart
• Temporary agitation or confusion, temporary loss of memory
• Disturbed speech, vision or hearing
• Seizures
• Asthma, heart failure, diarrhoea, fevers, shock