Diagnostic x-rays
- Barium meal
Nothing to eat, drink or smoke for 6 hours prior to examination.
Barium enema/Small bowel series
Bowel preparation kit with clear directions will be supplied for each examination. The aim of this kit will be to thoroughly clear the bowel prior to the examination. (Kit available from all practices.)
IVP
Care with patients who have previously had a significant contrast reaction. Newer non-ionic contrast is used for all intravenous injections which considerably reduces the incidence of reaction. 2 Durolax tablets night before study. Nil by mouth for 3 hours before the examination - this may be relaxed for urgent studies. (Please follow instructions given to you at time of booking. This may vary for each practice).
Mammography
For patient comfort ideally not performed within 10 days prior to menstruation. No underarm talc or deodorant. No talcum powder at all on breasts.
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Ultrasound
- Pregnancy or Pelvis
MUST HAVE A FULL BLADDER AT APPOINTMENT TIME. Drink 500mls of clear fluid 1 hour before study. MUST NOT empty bladder.
Exception: In patients undergoing only a Transvaginal Ultrasound and in cases of advanced pregnancy (after 24 weeks) only moderate bladder filling is required.
Upper Abdomen
Nothing to eat, drink or smoke for 6 hours prior to appointment.
Thyroid or Breast
No preparation required.
Duplex carotid, leg veins (DVT or CVI),arm veins, arm arteries, penile Doppler
No preparation required.
Duplex leg arterial, renal arteries, abdominal Doppler
Nothing to eat, drink or smoke for 6 hours prior to appointment.
Nuclear Medicine
Restrictions apply for pregnant and breast feeding patients. Please contact practice for details.
- Bone: Ensure hydration. Patient may leave department during 2-3 hour break between injection and scan. No barium 1 week prior to scan.
Thyroid Scan
Cease Thyroxine 6 weeks, T3 10 days prior to study. No Iodine contrast or supplements 3 weeks prior to scan.
Renal DTPA/MAG3
Drink 1 litre of clear fluid 1 hour prior to scan. Void freely. No diuretics day of scan.
Renal DTPA with Captopril Challenge
As above. Cease ACE inhibitors 3-7 days prior, depending on drug. Other antihypertensives may be substituted.
Biliary/HIDA scan
Clear fluids only for 4 hours prior to examination. No barium studies for 1 week prior to examination.
Gallium
3-4 day study. Normal diet. No barium studies for 1 week prior to examination. No oral contrast during study. Ensure daily bowel movement during study.
Liver/Spleen
No preparation. No barium studies for 1 week prior to examination.
G.I. Bleeding
No preparation. No barium or oral contrast for 1 week prior to examination.
Brain SPECT, Gated Cardiac, Lung scan
No preparation.
Myocardial with Thalium and/or MIBI
Fast from midnight. Various drug and dietary restrictions apply. Please consult practice.
CT Scan
- Abdomen/Pelvis
Drink clear fluids for 4 hours prior to the examination including 500mls in the hour before examination appointment time unless advised otherwise at time of making appointment.
All other CT studies require no preparation.
Angiography and Myelography
Clear fluids only for 4 hours prior to examination. Outpatients will remain in the department up to 6 hours for these examinations.
Bone Densitometry
No preparation required. Not to be performed for 72 hours after a Nuclear Medicine study, not for 1
week after a Barium study. Not in pregnancy.
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging
No preparation unless fasting for anaesthetic. Examination contraindicated in patients with cardiac pacemakers and intracranial aneurysm clips.
Claustrophobic patients and children under 10 will require general anaesthesia or heavy sedation. Mascara or any metal implant in the anatomic area of interest may degrade images.
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Allergy to iodinated contrast
To reduce the risk of allergic-type reaction to contrast media, we use only non-ionic contrast for all intravenous injections. However, where a significant allergic-type reaction has previously occurred, it may be necessary to use a preparation over 13 hours using oral steroids and antihistamine. This can be organised on an individual basis at any of our practices.
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