CT Patient Information

Computerized Tomography (CT) allows doctors to diagnose and treat a variety of conditions earlier and faster than ever before. It often is a safe and painless alternative to exploratory surgery and other diagnostic procedures, saving you discomfort and inconvenience. CT combines X-ray equipment with computer technology to allow your physician to see your organs and tissues. It differs from regular X-rays in that it creates images of thin cross sections or planes of your body, and it is able to detect some conditions that regular X-rays cannot.

As with any X-ray procedure, radiation is a risk; however, CT scans are designed to obtain the most information with the least possible radiation exposure.

What Can I Expect?

A typical CT exam usually lasts 30 minutes to an hour. The length of your exam will depend on the type of exam your doctor has ordered. Before your exam begins, the technologist will help you on to the scanning table. Once you are comfortable, the technologist will move you into the scanner and your exam will begin.

It's important that you remain as still as possible throughout the exam, since even slight movement blurs the results. You won't feel a thing, but you will hear the sound of the scanner working. If you have questions or need assistance at any time, you can communicate with the technologist through an audio system installed in the scanner.

During the exam, an X-ray tube will rotate around you, passing a narrow beam of X-ray from several different angles through the area to be examined. The table will move slightly after each view is taken. Detectors, located opposite the X-ray tube, receive data from inside your body. A computer will analyze the data and create an image. The images can be viewed on a monitor and also will be transferred to X-ray film to become a permanent record.

When the exam is complete, the technologist will help you off the table.

Will I Need An Injection?

Your physician might order an injection of an iodine contrast into a vein in your arm. If you have a history of allergies, especially to iodine, please mention it to your physician or the technologist when you arrive. It is common for the iodine contrast to cause a temporary flush, wave of nausea, or a metallic taste in the mouth. Please report these or any other symptoms to the technologist.

What Do I Need To Tell My Doctor?

When your doctor refers you for a CT exam, make sure all of your questions or concerns have been addressed. Issues you should discuss include:

• If you might be pregnant
• If you are diabetic
• Any medications you are taking
• Any dietary constraints that could interfere with the procedure
• Any allergies, especially to iodine

If you have any questions or comments about your scan at any time, please talk to your physician or inform the CT staff. We want to make you as comfortable with the exam as possible.

How Do I Prepare?

• Plan to arrive 20 minutes before your exam to provide medical and insurance information.
• Wear comfortable clothing that does not contain any metal (zippers, for example), since metal interferes with the scan. You may be asked to change into a gown, depending on the type of examination.
• Leave valuables at home when at all possible.
• Limit the amount of fluids you drink on the day of the exam and visit the restroom shortly before the exam.
• Bring a current list of all your medications to your appointment.
• Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, take your medications as usual but with minimal water. If you are taking pain medication, do so 30 minutes before the exam.
• If you have had barium studies of your stomach or colon within 48 hours of your CT scan, please tell your physician ahead of time or inform the technologist when you arrive.

Information for Specific Scans

The following information is intended as a general guideline. More specific information will be provided to you when necessary.

• Abdomen and Pelvis Scan
• Do not eat or drink anything (except medications) for four hours before your scan time.
• You will usually be required to drink a barium substance to outline the digestive system before the scan. The hospital or clinic personnel will provide the barium and instructions.
• You will be asked to place your arms over your head and hold your breath for approximately five seconds several times during the scan.
• Chest Scan
• Do not eat or drink for four hours before your scan time.
• You may be asked to remove undergarments as metal will interfere with the scan.
• You might be asked to swallow some barium to outline your esophagus.
• You will be asked to place your arms over your head and hold your breath for approximately five seconds several times during the scan.
• Head Scan
• Do not eat or drink for four hours before your scan time.
• The technologist will secure your head in the head cradle with a strap.
• Spine Scan
• It is not necessary to fast before a spine scan.
• You might be asked to place your arms over your head or on your chest.

How Do I Get The Results?

After your CT scan, your images are sent to a physician who specializes in the viewing of these types of images. This physician will prepare a report that is shared with your doctor (the doctor who ordered your CT exam). Your doctor will consider this information and is responsible for contacting you with the results. He or she can answer any questions you may have about your results at that time.

Post-Procedure Care

Following your CT today, you can resume your normal activities. (Please contact your doctor if you have any questions about your intended activities, or if you have any questions about restricted activities.)

• If you were given (or took) a sedative for this exam don’t drive or operate machinery until its effects have worn off (please contact your doctor with any questions).

If you were given an injection of contrast media as part of your CT scan today, you should:

• Drink an extra 24 ounces of water (three extra glasses).
• If you take an oral medication for diabetes that contains metformin, this should be discontinued for 48 hours (Note: do not discontinue your medication without talking to your doctor. Let the technologist know that you are taking this drug if you haven’t already). The following is a list of some of the drugs that contain metformin; please contact your pharmacist if you are not sure about the diabetes medicine you are taking:
• Glucophage
• Glucovance
• Metaglip
• Avandamet
• Any generic drug containing metformin
• While exceedingly rare, some patients may experience a delayed response to the contrast media. Contact your doctor immediately or go to the emergency room if any of these changes suddenly occur:
• Trouble breathing
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Have not urinated for 24 hours
• Unusual or unexpected stomach pain, weakness/tiredness, and muscle pain
• Any other sudden change of concern to you
• Your injection of contrast media required a puncture through your skin. Even though proper steps were taken to prevent infection as a result of this skin puncture, an infection in this area is possible. Please seek medical care if:
• The injection site becomes red, painful to the touch, or hot to the touch.
• A lump that was not present when you finished your scan develops at the injection site, or a small lump that was present becomes larger over time.

Ask Questions or Report Concerns

If you have any questions or concerns related to the imaging procedure that you had done today, please e-mail quality@dmshg.com or call 800.437.4628 and ask for the Quality Improvement Department. Unresolved concerns can be reported to The Joint Commission by calling 800.994.6610 or by going through their website, www.jointcommission.org.