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Exam Preparation Instructions

Bone Densitometry (DEXA)

No calcium or calcium supplements taken the day before the exam. You will be asked to wear a gown.

CT

  • With IV Contrast Exam
    No food for four hours prior to scheduled exam. Clear liquid up to appointment time is permitted.
  • Without IV Contrast Exam
    No preparation.
  • Abdominal/Pelvic with IV contrast exams
    Arrive one hour prior to appointed time for exam preparation. No food for four hours prior to scheduled exam. Clear liquid up to appointment time is permitted.
  • Abdominal/Pelvic without IV contrast
    Arrive one hour prior to appointed time for exam preparation.
  • Enterography
    Arrive one hour prior to appointment time for oral contrast. No food for four hours prior to scheduled exam. Clear liquid up to appointment time is permitted. You will be drinking a large volume of contrast and you should be near a bathroom for 2-4 hours after procedure.
  • Calcium Score Screening
    No vigorous exercise for 24 hours prior to the test. Eat, drink, and take medications as normal.
  • Virtual Colonscopy
    Pick up prep 4 days prior to exam at the facility where you are scheduled.

Mammography

Wear a two piece outfit. Do not apply any powders, deodorants or perfumes. You will be asked to remove your bra and wear a patient gown.

MRI

Notify us prior to your appointment if you have the following:

    • Pacemaker
    • Electronic device or metallic implant
    • Brain aneurysm clip
    • Heart valve replacement
    • Stent
    • Metal eye injury (may require X-ray prior to exam)
  • Abdominal/Pelvis/MRCP
    Nothing by mouth four hours prior.
  • All Studies
    No metal items may be worn during the procedure, including: Pacemakers, watches, wallets, keys, piercing(s), bras, etc. You may be required a scout film of the eyes. You will be asked to wear a patient gown.
  • Enterography
    Arrive 60 minutes prior. Nothing by mouth four hours prior. You will be drinking a large volume of contrast and you should be near a bathroom for 2-4 hours after procedure.

Fluroscopy

  • Injection or Aspiration
    If you are taking Coumadin or Warfarin, you need to have an INR the day of your exam.
  • Barium Enema

Colon Exam Bowel Cleaning Instructions

  • Esophagram or Barium Swallow
    • AM Prep:
      • No food, drink, or smoking after midnight.
    • PM Prep:
      • No food, drink, or smoking for 8 hours prior to exam.
  • Small Bowel Follow-Through
    No food or drink for 8 hours prior to exam. Hold morning meds if possible. Exam can take up to 4 hours. Average is 2 hours.
  • Upper GI
    • AM Prep:
      • No food, drink, or smoking after midnight.
    • PM Prep:
      • No food, drink, or smoking for 8 hours prior to exam.
  • Upper GI W/Small Bowel
    • Exam can take up to 4 hours. Average is 2 hours.
    • AM Prep:
      • No food, drink, or smoking after midnight. Hold morning meds if possible.
    • PM Prep:
      • No food, drink, or smoking for 8 hours prior to exam. Hold morning meds if possible.
  • Upper GI – Pouch Study
    No food or drink for 8 hours prior to exam. You will need to bring in 2 cups (1 cup extra) of cooked meat/garbanzo beans for this study; the meat has to be COOKED as there won’t be an option to do so at the site.
  • Cystography/Cystogram
    You must have a catheter in place prior to coming in for exam.

Ultrasound

VIEW FAT-FREE FOOD OPTIONS HERE.

  • Abdomen
    • AM PREP:
      • Eat a fat-free diet* for dinner the night before your exam. Nothing to eat or drink after midnight on the day of the exam.
      • Morning meds OK with sip of water.
    • PM PREP:
      • Eat a fat-free diet*for breakfast the day of your exam. Nothing to eat or drink 6 hours prior to your exam. Small amounts of clear fluids are ok during this time if needed.
      • Medications can be taken with a small sip of water.
    • Infant Prep:
      • Depends on their eating pattern, if they normally eat every 3-4 hours, no more than 3 hours of no food or drink.
    • Diabetic Patients:
      • Best of scheduled in the morning due to fasting requirements. Follow AM or PM prep above. If needed to avoid hypoglycemia may have sugar free candy, jello, orange juice, or apple juice.
  • Pelvic with or without transvaginal
    First empty your bladder then finish drinking 32 ounces of water 1 hour prior to exam time; do not empty your bladder.
  • Transvaginal Only
    No prep.
  • Breast
    You will be asked to remove your bra and wear a patient gown.
  • Obstetrical
    • Trimester 1: First empty your bladder then finish drinking 32 ounces of water 1 hour prior to exam time; do not empty your bladder.
    • Trimester 2: First empty your bladder then finish drinking 8 ounces of water 1 hour prior to exam time; do not empty your bladder.
    • Trimester 3: No preparation.
  • Renal (Retroperitoneal) or Post Void Residual
    First empty your bladder then finish drinking 16 ounces of water 1 hour prior to exam time; do not empty your bladder.

Ultrasound Abdomen Elastography

  • AM Prep:
    • Nothing by mouth after midnight.
  • PM Prep:
    • Nothing by mouth 6 hours prior.

Ultrasound Abdomen Limited

  • Hernias
    No prep.
  • Palpable lump
    No prep.
  • Infants
    0-12 months hold food for about an hour before exam, for toddlers 1-4 NPO 2-4 hours prior.
  • Any other diagnosis see US Abdomen complete prep

Ultrasound Abdomen Pyloric Stenosis – Infant   

Bring empty bottle to exam. Does not matter the size of the bottle. Needs to bring bottle so that we can give baby water during the exam.

Ultrasound Hysterosonogram

  • No sexual intercourse from either from day 1 of menses or more than 14 days prior to exam date until after the procedure is complete.
  • Morning of exam: bathe, do not eat a heavy meal, perform an over the counter home pregnancy and bring with you to exam.
  • Arrive 15 minutes early.

Ultrasound Duplex

  • Aorta Limited
    Nothing by mouth after midnight (minimum 6 hrs). No gum or smoking after midnight.  May take meds with sip of water.
  • Mesentric Artery
    Nothing by mouth after midnight (minimum 6 hrs). No gum or smoking after midnight.  May take meds with sip of water.
  • Heptoportal
    Nothing by mouth after midnight (minimum 6 hrs). No gum or smoking after midnight.  May take meds with sip of water.
  • Tips Protocol
    Nothing by mouth after midnight (minimum 6 hrs). No gum or smoking after midnight.  May take meds with sip of water.
  • Renal (Artery)
    Nothing by mouth after midnight (minimum 6 hrs). No gum or smoking after midnight.  May take meds with sip of water.

XRAY

No preparation.

All Other Exams And Studies

Contact 253-761-4200, option 2 then option 1.

PET 253-680-3400

Interventional Radiology (IR) 253-284-0841

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