Radiology Forums

CT007 · Joined: 19 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

anybody know the preparation & procedure about CT Colonography?

ScrmnWoody · Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 40 Location: Bellingham, WA

If it's the Virtual Colonoscopy that you speak of, here is what we currently use:

VIRTUAL COLONOSCOPY – STANDARD PREP

OVERVIEW

Proper bowel cleaning is needed for the best exam! To get a clean and empty colon, you will start to prepare the day before your exam. Both a clear liquid diet and the contents of the bowel prep kit are needed to clean out the colon. The bowel prep kit contains laxatives and contrast medicines. The laxatives will help clean out the bowel for the exam. The contrast will help to highlight leftover stool on the CT images.

DAY BEFORE EXAM

Starting at breakfast, you may drink as many clear liquids as you want. Do not eat any solid foods. Drink only clear liquids for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration and make the laxative work better. Please avoid red liquids (i.e., red gelatin or cranberry juice).

Clear liquids may include:

Water, tea, or coffee (no cream or milk; sugar is ok)
Sports drinks
Bullion or broth
Gelatin, ice pops (no fruit or cream added)
Apple or white grape juice (no orange, tomato, grapefruit, or prune juice)
Soda, such as Sprite, 7-Up, Ginger Ale, or Cola
Lemonade (no pulp)
Clear hard candy, gum

Follow the Bowel Prep Medicine Schedule:

You may wish to place the kit in the refrigerator to make the contents more pleasant to drink. It may also be consumed at room temperature.

There are three (3) steps in the Bowel Prep Medicine Schedule. The times below can vary, but you must wait three (3) hours between each step. For instance, if you begin step 1 at 4:30pm, then proceed to step 2 at 7:30pm and step 3 at 10:30pm. You may have as many clear liquids as you like between each step and up until midnight.

Step 1: Between 3:00pm and 5:00pm (choose one option)

Option A: Drink one bottle (45mL) of Fleet Phospho-soda undiluted. Drink quickly. Follow with 8 ounces of clear liquid, right away. Follow this with at least 4 to 8 cups of clear liquid before proceeding to step 2.

Option B: Mix one bottle (45mL) of the Fleet Phospho-soda liquid into 8 ounces of clear juice or soda (i.e., 7-Up or Ginger Ale). Drink the entire glass. Follow with 4 to 8 cups of clear liquid before proceeding to step 2.

Step 2: Between 6:00pm and 8:00pm (Step 2 should begin three (3) hours after start of Step 1)

Drink 250mL of Barium. If you have not had any loose bowel movements within three hours of taking the Fleet Phospho-soda, drink one 10 fluid ounce bottle of Magnesium Citrate. You can buy this at any drugstore. Whether or not you need the Magnesium Citrate, drink at least 4 to 8 cups of clear liquids before proceeding to Step 3.

Step 3: Between 9:00pm and 11:00pm (Step 3 should begin 3 hours after start of Step 2) (choose one option)

Option A: Drink one bottle (60mL) of Diatrizoate undiluted. You may find it tastes better if you drink it quickly and then follow with 8 ounces of clear juice, soda, or water.

Option B: Mix one bottle (60mL) of Diatrizoate in one glass (8 ounces) of clear juice, soda, or water. If you dilute the medicine, you must be able to drink the entire amount.

You may continue drinking clear liquids until midnight. Your bowel prep is now complete!

DAY OF THE EXAM

Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your exam or until you are advised to after your exam. You may take your regular medications with a small sip of water.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR DIABETICS

If you have diabetes, test you blood glucose level more often when you can’t eat as well as before your exam. You should adjust your insulin or oral diabetes medication as discussed with your doctor. Resume your normal schedule after you receive the exam results phone call and are eating again. If your blood glucose level is low (less than 70 mg/dl) or you have symptoms, please drink a clear liquid with sugar or take glucose tablets. Always recheck your blood sugar level to make sure that it stays above 70. We can still do the exam with low blood glucose level unless you need to eat solid food to maintain your blood glucose. It is better to maintain your blood glucose than to have the exam. We can always reschedule your exam for a date in the future.

If you haven’t been able to have a bowel movement or finish the prep kit, please call our scheduling office to reschedule your exam.
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Chris