Preparing for a CT scan
Your radiographer (a health professional trained to perform imaging procedures) will explain how to prepare for your scan.
CT scans are routinely done as an outpatient procedure. This means you will have the scan and go home the same day.
You may be asked not to eat or drink anything for a few hours beforehand, particularly if you’re having a CT scan of your abdomen (tummy). A dye called contrast medium may be used to make your tissues show up more clearly on the images produced by the scan. Depending on which area of your body needs to be scanned, you may swallow the contrast medium as a liquid, have it injected into a vein in your hand or arm, or have it inserted into your rectum (back passage). If you're given an injection of contrast medium, this usually gives a warm sensation that passes after a short time. Some people also get a feeling of needing to pass urine but this also goes away quickly.
Your radiographer will discuss with you what will happen before, during and after your scan. This is your opportunity to understand what will happen, and you can help yourself by preparing questions to ask about the risks, benefits and any alternatives to the procedure. This will help you to be informed, so you can give your consent for the procedure to go ahead. You must tell your radiographer if you have asthma, diabetes or kidney problems and let him or her know if you have any allergies – particularly to contrast medium. Also, if you have claustrophobia (an extreme or irrational fear of confined places), it's a good idea to mention this to your doctor or radiographer before the scan is started.