CT Scan for Crohns diease?… by beautifulvoice19
I am having a CT scan on my abdomen to see if there are any problems contributing to my crohns dieease. What does this involve and what is the injection i need?
Best Answer:
A CT Abdomen and Pelvis with oral and IV contrast should be performed. You should have nothing to eat for 8 hours prior to the scan. Which facility you use will have a specific protocol, but you should drink at least two cups of Baruim, or Gastrograffin. The Baruim is the white chalky liquid with the Gastrograffin being more related to the IV contrast used. It is water soluble and if you have a perforation, or have a risk of going to surgery soon after the scan, Gastrograffin should be used. This reduces the chance of Barium peritonitis. The IV contrast is an iodine based non-ionic, low osmolar contrast, like Isovue, Omnipaque, or VisiPaque. These newer contrast agents have a very low chance for serious side effects, but a few people have an allergic-type response to the contrast. This could result in itching, hives, or could even be shortness of breath and increased blood pressure. This reaction is usually treated with epinepherine and benadryl, sometimes a corticosteroid is used to lessen the response of a reaction.
The scan:
You will be brought to the room and asked some questions about allergies, and if you have kidney disease, diabetes, pheochromocytoma, multiple myeloma, or a known sensitivity to the contrast. You should bring a list of what medications you are taking.
The technologist will maybe have you drink some more contrast to fill the stomach, then lie you down. They should have you to remove any metal from the area to be scanned to reduce artifacts on the scan. A hep-loc, or IV will be started which will be used for the injection of the IV contrast.
You will be moved into the bore, then the tech will enter the console room to commence the scan. You will be told to hold your breath, this first scan will last about 5-10 seconds.
The first picture is a digital radiograph, or “scout” to see the overall anatomy. He/she will plan the top and bottom borders where he/she wants to scan. The scan “slices” will be planned off of the “scout” image. They will adjust technical factors depending on your size and will plan any other additional scans or “reformat” images needed.
They will start the contrast running, this is when you should feel a warm flushed feeling and possibly a metallic taste from the iodine contrast in your veins. This is a normal side-effect. They will start the imaging after the contrast has gone in and the machine will again have you hold your breath for about 10-20 seconds, depending on the speed of the machine. Any additional “delayed” images will be made about 5 minutes later. If no delayed images are needed, they shouldn't for Crohns, you will be ready to go.
It takes less than 15 minutes usually. Most patients say it is not as big of a deal as they thought it would be.
Hope this helps.
Good luck!!
Powered by Yahoo Answers