CT (Computed Tomography) Scan

Transcription

1 CT (Computed Tomography) Scan Department of Radiology Information for Patients i Radiology Leaflet No. 05 University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

2 Introduction If you are an outpatient please read your appointment letter carefully to check which hospital you must attend for your appointment. What is a CT scan? A CT scan is an x-ray examination that gives much more information than a normal x-ray. It produces detailed images of your organs and blood vessels. How to prepare for the CT scan It is very important that you follow the preparation instructions in your appointment letter carefully. If there is any possibility that you may be pregnant, please contact the Radiology Department immediately. Your appointment may need to be rescheduled. Failure to do so may result in your examination being postponed. If you are taking tablets or medicines for any reason, do not stop taking them without first consulting your doctor. Please bring with you any sprays, inhalers or angina tablets that you are taking. If you are a diabetic patient please speak to your diabetes specialist nurse about the eating / drinking instructions in your appointment letter and read the information on pages five and six. Please tell the staff in the CT scanner on arrival if you are diabetic. 2

3 Who will be doing the examination? A radiographer and a radiologist (a specialised x-ray doctor) will carry out the examination. During the examination there may also be a radiology assistant in the room. As we are a teaching hospital, a student may also be present. If you wish you can request that the student is not present during your examination. What happens during the CT scan? On arrival at the Radiology Department you may be asked to change into a hospital gown. You will be taken into the scan room where the examination will be explained to you and you may ask any questions that you have. For scans of the abdomen you may be asked to drink up to one litre of fluid before your scan. This may take up to one hour. The fluid will give more detailed images and will help the radiologist to report your scan. You will be asked to lie still on the scan table and to hold your breath several times during the examination. The radiographer will tell you when to do this over the intercom. If you have any difficulties lying flat or holding your breath for short periods (up to 20 seconds) please tell the staff on arrival. An injection of a contrast agent (a colourless liquid that shows up on x-rays and CT scans) into a vein in your arm may be necessary to show your blood vessels. The supervising radiologist will decide this before your scan and you will be fully informed. 3

4 Important information The contrast agent contains iodine and is excreted in your urine by the kidneys. Please tell the CT staff on arrival: If you are allergic to iodine, have any other allergies or suffer from asthma. If you have reacted previously to an intravenous contrast agent, the dye used for kidney x-rays and CT scanning. If you are on renal dialysis, have any problems with your kidneys or are seeing a kidney specialist. How long will it take? You may be in the Radiology Department for up to 90 minutes in total. The CT scan takes between 10 and 30 minutes. The time will vary for each patient. What happens after the examination? You should have no after effects from this examination. You may need to stay in the Radiology Department for a short time (15-30 minutes) after your scan before you can go home. You can have something to eat and drink after the examination. You should then be free to return to work / normal daily life. 4

5 Risks and benefits A CT scan produces detailed images of organs and blood vessels. There is a very small risk from the effects of the injection. Some patients get a warm feeling and / or a metallic taste when the injection is given and sometimes can feel sick. If you do get these feelings they usually last about one minute. We are all exposed to natural background radiation every day of our lives. This comes from the sun, the food we eat, and the ground. Each examination gives a dose on top of this natural background radiation. The radiation from the x-rays during a CT scan is equivalent to receiving up to five years of natural background radiation. The risks of radiation are slightly higher for the unborn child so we must ask female patients aged 10 to 55 years about their menstrual history. The benefits of this examination outweigh any potential risk and the risk from not having the examination could be greater. We will take all safeguards to minimise the amount of x-rays you receive. How do I get the results? The results will not be given to you immediately. Your CT scan pictures will be reported by a radiologist and the results will be sent to the doctor who referred you for this examination. An explanation of how to get your results will be given to you after your examination. If you are an inpatient the results will be given to the doctors looking after you on the ward. 5

6 Information for patients with diabetes If you are diabetic and are taking METFORMIN (also called GLUCOPHAGE, GLUCOVANCE, DUFORMIN, ORABET or GLUCAMET) tablets, continue to take these as normal until the time of your examination. When you arrive in the department please let us know you are diabetic. At the time of your examination you will be asked if you are taking METFORMIN (or GLUCOPHAGE, GLUCOVANCE, DUFORMIN, ORABET or GLUCAMET) before the doctor, radiographer or nurse gives you the injection of radiological contrast agent. If you are taking METFORMIN (or GLUCOPHAGE, GLUCOVANCE, DUFORMIN, ORABET or GLUCAMET) it is necessary for you to stop taking these tablets for a few days after the radiological test. This is to avoid the build up of acid in the blood. Stopping the tablets temporarily will not cause any harm to you. After the examination you will need to contact your GP surgery to arrange a blood test to determine whether it is safe to start taking your tablets again. At this time you do not need to see your GP and will not need a GP appointment. If you are an inpatient staff on your ward will arrange a blood test for you. The blood test should not be performed until at least 2 days (48-72 hours) after your radiological examination or scan. A small sample of your blood will be taken by an assistant in the GP s practice and sent to a laboratory for analysis. Once the results of your blood test are known to your GP, he / she will be able to advise you if it is safe to restart your tablets. Again, you will not need to arrange an appointment with your doctor. 6

7 Information for patients with diabetes (continued) The surgery will either contact you within a week of the blood test or you should contact the surgery to find out the result of the test and whether you can restart your tablets. If you are diabetic and taking insulin or any other diabetic treatment, but not METFORMIN or GLUCOPHAGE, GLUCOVANCE, DUFORMIN, ORABET or GLUCAMET) then there is no need to alter your treatment or have a blood test. Please ask the radiographer, nurse or doctor dealing with you if you would like further advice. Other sources of information Websites For general information about radiology departments visit the Royal College of Radiologists website: For information about the effects of x-rays read the NRPB publication: X-rays how safe are they, on the Health Protection Agency website: Please note that the views expressed in these websites, do not necessarily reflect the views of UHL or the NHS. University Hospitals of Leicester website: NHS Direct: For health advice or information you can call NHS Direct on:

8 Additional hospital information How was it for you? If you wish to make any comments or suggestions regarding your visit to the Radiology Department please fill in a suggestion form or speak to a member of staff. Suggestion forms are located in all waiting areas within the department. University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust also has a Patient Information and Liaison Service (PILS), and you are welcome to contact them on: Freephone: pils.complaints.compliments@uhl-tr.nhs.uk We review our information leaflets on a regular basis. If you have any comments about how we can improve these leaflets please speak to a member of staff. Directions and car parking Hospital car parking is available to all hospital patients and visitors. Spaces are limited so please allow plenty of time to find a car parking space. A charge is payable. Dedicated disabled parking bays are also available. Drop off bays exist at the main entrances, these bays have a 20 minutes maximum stay. Parking charges are payable, please check tariff boards or the hospital website for full details. As well as the hourly rates there are a range of saver tickets available for patients and prime carers. Marked disabled bays exist outside of the public car parks for which there is no charge. If you park in the car parks the fee will apply. Certain qualifying benefits as notified by the Department of Social Security entitle the patient to free or reduced parking. For more information contact the Cashiers office. 8

9 Additional hospital information (continued) Bus services to the hospital Our aim is to ensure that there are car parking spaces available for those who really need to use them. We encourage you to use public transport or walk to the hospital if you are fit and well. For information on bus routes and times contact Traveline on Our Hospital Hopper shuttle bus service links our three hospitals with Beaumont Leys Centre, Hamilton Centre, the Railway station and St Nicolas Place (Park and Ride hub). The buses run from 6:30am until 7pm every 30 minutes from Monday to Friday. The nationally recognised concessions are valid on buses in Leicester including the Hospital Hopper. Contact the UHL Travelwise Manager on for more information on the Hospital Hopper. Relatives and escorts You may wish to bring a friend or relative to accompany you to and from the Radiology Department when you have your examination although they may not always be allowed into the examination room. This may be useful if you do not understand English very well or if you have any special needs. Children Baby changing facilities are available. Please ask to be shown to them if you wish to use them. We are unable to offer childcare facilities. If you need to bring your children with you, please bring along an adult who can supervise them whilst your examination is being carried out. Radiology staff are not able to supervise your children. 9

10 Additional hospital information (continued) Facilities available Refreshments: Refreshments including hot and cold drinks are available in the hospital. Please ask a member of staff for directions. Shops: Each hospital contains a shop selling magazines, newspapers, sweets and drinks. Please ask a member of staff for directions. 10

11 Any questions? If you have any questions write them down here to remind you what to ask when you speak to your consultant or radiologist. 11

12 If you would like this information in another language or format, please contact the service equality manager on Produced by: Imaging Patient Information Group. Date implemented: May Review date: May Edition 6. (Mear) KR IMA