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CT Scan
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My 12 year old son has to have a CT scan tomorrow, will they inject anything into him first? I need to prepare him before we get to the hospital.
Thanks for any replies. RR
Thanks for any replies. RR
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.My daughter has had numerous scans over the years for epilepsy and never had an injection. I had a scan for tinitus symptoms( probably ruling out a tumour ) and was given an injection. This was half way through the scan not at the beginning. I think it must depend on what the operator feels at the time is needed.
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.
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.
Many thanks for the replies, he has to have the scan on his head, mouth region as he has supernumaries in his upper gums that need to be removed, The consultant wanted the CT scan done so he knows exactly where they are so as not to put the gums through too much trauma, whilst he is taking them out.
I have had a few CT scans, I always get sent a letter prior to the scan informing me of exactly what to expect.
In my case i have a dye that will show on the scan injected via a canula in my arm.
I am told not to eat or drink for 3h before but when i'm there i am always told that i could have drunk water.
I am astonished that you need to come on here to get advice that the hospital should be giving you.
Even a call to the hospital should get you the info you need that is specific to your sons scan
In my case i have a dye that will show on the scan injected via a canula in my arm.
I am told not to eat or drink for 3h before but when i'm there i am always told that i could have drunk water.
I am astonished that you need to come on here to get advice that the hospital should be giving you.
Even a call to the hospital should get you the info you need that is specific to your sons scan