Preparations are necessary before an imaging test in the radiology department
at Horizon Health. Our team will ensure your comfort and safety when performing
the imaging test. For more information, call
(217) 466-4242.
CT Scans
Head/Chest/Neck
These areas do not require any preparations.
Sinus/Facial/Auditory/Spinal/Extremities
These areas do not require any preparations.
Abdomen/Pelvis
For all abdominal and pelvis CT scans, you are not required to drink oral
contrast, unless specifically noted by your physician.
If you are directed to have oral contrast, you will pick it up in the radiology
department and instructions for when to take it will be given at that time.
Fluoroscopy
Barium Enema
This test requires a cleansing of the colon to avoid poor imaging. You
will need to pick up a cleansing kit that is located in the hospital pharmacy,
which will have instructions on how to perform cleansing.
At noon the day before the exam, you will begin drinking clear liquids
(plain Jell-O with no fruit added, apple juice, grape juice, cranapple
juice, bouillon, coffee, tea [sugar may be added, but no milk or cream]).
No cream soups. Any liquid you can see through may be used.
Fluids are essential. Drink 8 ounces of water per hour for 6 hours if possible.
Continue to drink clear liquids from noon until midnight. Avoid fizzy
liquids (pop, beer, Alka-Seltzer, etc.)
After midnight, do not take anything by mouth until after the exam.
Mammogram
Refrain from consuming caffeine for 48 hours before the exam
Do not use lotions, powders, or deodorants the day of the exam
Take mammogram results obtained elsewhere to the appointment
MRI
Daily medications, food, and drink are acceptable prior to your appointment
and will not affect test results.
If you are claustrophobic, it might be best to contact your physician prior
to the examination to obtain medication that will help you through the test.
Some medical implanted devices are not allowed to enter the MRI scanning
area and the examination could be discontinued for safety reasons
Cerebral aneurysm clips
Certain heart valves
Cochlear implants
Metal filings in the eye
Pacemaker/Defibrillator
Shunts
Bring prior films of similar body parts to be examined with you to the
MRI appointment. These can be used to compare previous examination with
the current one being performed. This can result in a higher diagnostic
interpretation.
GI Studies
Esophagus - Take nothing by mouth after midnight the day before the exam
Small Bowel Series - Take nothing by mouth after midnight the day before the exam
Upper Gastro Intestinal (UGI) - Take nothing by mouth after midnight the
day before the exam
IVP (Intravenous Pyelogram)
This test requires a cleansing of the colon to avoid poor imaging. You
will need to pick up a cleansing kit that is located in the hospital pharmacy,
which will have instructions on how to perform cleansing.
At noon the day before the exam, begin drinking clear liquids (plain Jell-O
with no fruit added, apple juice, grape juice, cranapple juice, bouillon,
coffee, tea [sugar may be added, but no milk or cream]). No cream soups.
Any liquid you can see through may be used.
Fluids are essential. Drink 8 ounces of water per hour for 6 hours if possible.
Continue to drink clear liquids from noon until midnight. Avoid fizzy
liquids (pop, beer, Alka-Seltzer, etc.)
After midnight, do not take anything by mouth until after the exam.
Nuclear Medicine
Bone Scan/Lung Scan
No prep required.
Cardiolite Scan
Take nothing by mouth 3-4 hours before the exam. Some heart medications
should be discontinued within 24 hours before the exam. Please consult
your physician regarding those that apply to you. Wear comfortable clothing
and footwear for the treadmill portion of the exam.
Gallbladder (Hepatobiliary) Scan
Take nothing by mouth 4-6 hours before the exam.
Thyroid Scan
No prep, unless the patient is already on thyroid medication. This medication
is not to be taken starting two weeks before the exam.
Your bladder should be full when arriving for your appointment, which will
provide a higher quality of examination. If the bladder is not full, this
will make it difficult to perform the examination and you will be required
to drink fluids before your test can proceed.
Gallbladder/ RUQ/Abdomen/Liver/Pancreas
Eat a fat-free meal the evening before. Take nothing by mouth after midnight.
Do not smoke the morning of the exam.
