PRP's CT Service Information

An X-ray examination of a part of your body with computer-generated, cross-sectional images of your insides. It may require intravenous injection of contrast medium into a vein, usually at your elbow or back of the hand.

Please advise us beforehand

If you have had an adverse reaction to a previous contrast injection or other drugs or if you have any renal impairment. We will ask you to complete a questionnaire before the examination and sign a consent to the contrast injection if it is required for your examination.

Please advise us if you are, or think you may be, pregnant.

Please bring your referral, Medicare and Pension Health Care Cards with any previous imaging relating to the region being scanned.

Preparation

PREPARATION | SPINE, BONES AND JOINTS
No preparation required.

PREPARATION | HEAD AND CHEST
Fast 2 hours. Keep well hydrated.

PREPARATION | ABDOMEN AND PELVIS
Fast 4 hours. One hour before your examination time drink 1 litre of water over 15 minutes.

PREPARATION | CT ENTEROGRAPHY
Fast 12 hours, but drink water as required for thirst. After you arrive you will be given a drink which will fill your stomach and small bowel. The scan is done when this has reached the large bowel, usually 30-60 minutes after drinking.

PREPARATION | CT COLONOGRAPHY (SOMETIMES CALLED CT COLOGRAPHY)
Three-day preparation of dietary restriction and laxatives to completely clean out your colon. For a good quality examination, it is essential that your colon be completely clean. You will need to collect the preparation instructions from our practice beforehand.

Special precautions

You may not be able to have the contrast injection if you have had a reaction to a previous injection, or have significant renal failure.

Special instructions for diabetics

If your examination requires fasting, then book an early morning appointment and have your breakfast and diabetic medication after the examination.

If your examination will require an intravenous injection of contrast medium, we need to know your renal function. Please bring along the results of your most recent blood test creatinine level.

What happens during the procedure

After the preparation for your particular examination, and your consent if a contrast injection is to be given, you change into a gown (except for head scans), then lie on a bed which slides through the opening in the scanner. The bed will go through the scanner once for the planning scan, then once for each scan. Some scans such as liver CT may require multiple scans over a few minutes as the contrast flows through.

CT coronary angiography may require intravenous beta-blockers just beforehand to slow the heart rate to less than 60.

CT colonography requires the colon to be inflated with air or carbon dioxide through a tube into the rectum, then scans are taken on your back and then on your stomach. For CT colonography and CT enteroclysis you may be given intravenous Buscopan to paralyse the bowel for a short while.

How long does it take?

After the preparation, the scan itself takes about 15 minutes.

After your examination

Have a high fluid intake for 24 hours to flush out the contrast.

Your images and report

After your examination, the most pertinent images from your study will be available on the myPRP patient portal. A report, along with the images will be sent directly to your referring doctor. PRP will store digital copies of all studies on our secure database for comparison with any future examinations.

Please bring any previous X-rays with you.

It is important that you return to your doctor with your examination results. Whether they are normal or abnormal, your doctor needs to know promptly so that a management plan can be formulated.

Possible complications

Allergic reactions to contrast material can occur but significant reactions are rare, and generally respond to adrenaline. Our staff members are equipped and trained to treat contrast reactions.

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

AVAILABLE AT:

Related Services