If there is a possibility of pregnancy, please inform the technologist prior to the date of your examination. Please advise our department prior to your procedure if you have allergies or previous contrast media reaction.
What to expect
Your physician has requested that you have a CT (Computerized Tomography) Scan. This procedure is done to produce detailed images of a selected part of your body. You will be positioned on a table that moves through the scanner. You may receive instructions on how to breathe. It is very important that you lie still while the images are being taken.
On the day of your exam
Please arrive approximately 15 minutes prior to your appointment time to allow for parking and registration. If you are having a CT exam of the abdomen and/or pelvis, you will be required to drink oral contrast prior to the exam. Plan to spend up to approximately 1-2 hours in the department. If you bring friends or family to the appointment they will be asked to have a seat in a waiting room during your test. Children cannot be left unattended during the test, so please arrange for a caregiver.
Preparation and procedure
There are no preparations for the following exams:
- Spine
- Kidney Stone
- Renal Artery
The following exams require an injection of contrast media into a vein in your arm. Please see further directions under contrast studies.
- Larynx (or Neck)
- Thorax (Chest)
- Urogram (Water Prep Instructions)
- Pre- or Post-Stent Abdomen
- Abdomen and/or pelvis (This exam also requires oral contrast which you will drink before your appointment. Please see oral contrast instructions for Adult, Child 5-12, or Child Under 5)
Contrast studies
You may be required to have a blood test prior to the examination to determine kidney function. The final determination of contrast administration is typically decided by the radiologist. At times the scan is changed from contrast to non-contrast or vice versa on the day of your exam. If this should occur and you have not had a lab test, the imaging department will help to facilitate this step.
Results
Our radiologist will study your examination and a report will be forwarded to your practitioner, from whom you may obtain the results. If you have any questions regarding this procedure, please contact our department at 608-342-4740.
Date of appointment _______________________________________ Time_____________________
Your procedure will be performed at Southwest Health at 1400 Eastside Road – Platteville, WI 53818. Please use the Main Hospital Entrance and check in at the Registration Desk prior to your scheduled procedure.
If you cannot keep your appointment please contact the radiology department at 608-342-4740 so that we may accommodate another patient.
NOTE: It may take 2-3 days to obtain verification from your insurance company for exams that require prior authorization, such as CT, MRI, Nuclear Stress, Injections, etc.