Exam Preparations

This is a quick reference guide for exams performed at CDI – St. Cloud and CDI – Waite Park. Please call us at 320.251.0609 if you have any questions about the preparation for your specific exam or procedure. Note that “NPO” is a Latin abbreviation for "nothing by mouth,” meaning that you should not eat or drink anything other than clear liquids (water, broth, apple juice) for the time specified prior to your appointment if indicated below.

GENERAL RADIOLOGY PREPS

Arthrogram | No blood thinners 48 hours before procedure, Ankle Arthro must bring a driver
Barium Enema (Colon) | Air Contrast Fleet Kit – 24 hour prep.
Dysphagia Study (Swallow Study and Speech) | NPO 8 hours
Esophogram | NPO 8 hours
Fistula Sinus Tract | NPO 3 hours
Gastrografin - Colon | Fleet Kit – 24 hour prep.
Gastrografin - Upper GI Series | NPO 8 hours
Gastrografin - Small Bowel Series | NPO 8 hours
IVP | Fleet Kit – 24 hour prep.
KUB (Kidney, Ureter, Bladder) | None
Loopogram* | NPO 4 hours; bring extra bag.
Sialogram - Complete | NPO 8 hours
Small Bowel Follow through | NPO 8 hours
Swallow Study with Speech | NPO 8 hours
T-Tube Cholangiogram | None
Tomogram (Planigrams) | NPO 8 hours
Upper GI Series with Air Contrast (if needed) | NPO 8 hours
Upper GI With Air and Small Bowel (if needed) | NPO 8 hours
Voiding Cystourethrogram (VCUG) | None

* Note Coumadin Patients: Patient needs to be off Coumadin 3 days prior to injection and needs a protime morning of appointment.

MRI PREPS

Head, Chest, Abdominal/Liver Exams - 4 hours NPO
All Other Exams | No Prep
Gad Exams | 4 hours NPO
Breast | 4 hours NPO
MRCP | Arrive 1 hour early to drink prep (Gastromark) 8 hours NPO
Sedation | 4 hours NPO; Patient needs a driver

CT PREPS

*Head | NPO 4 hours
*Abdomen | NPO 4 hours. ReadiCat prep (See Below)
Aspiration | NPO 4 hours and previous CT scan Off blood thinner 48 hours prior to procedure.
Biopsy | NPO 4 hours and previous CT scan Off blood thinner 48 hours prior to procedure.
Cervical Spine | None
Chest (Thorax) | NPO 4 hours and current chest x-ray
*CTA (Computed Tomography Angiography) | NPO 4 hours
*IAC (Internal Auditory Canal) | NPO 4 hours
*KUB (Kidney, Ureter, Bladder) | NPO 4 hours
Lower Extremities | No Prep
Lumbar Spine | No Prep
Orbits, Facial Bone | No Prep for bones; NPO 4 Hours for orbits
Pelvis | NPO 4 hours; ReadiCat Prep (See Below)
Pelvis (Bone) | No Prep
Sinuses | No Prep
*Soft Tissue Neck | NPO 4 hours
Upper Extremity | No Prep

ReadiCat Instructions: Patient should drink half the bottle evening before exam; other half of the bottle 2 hours prior to exam. Patient will need to drink an additional full glass of Gastroview in the clinic immediately before the exam. Patients with exams at 4 pm or after should drink half the bottle by 8 am the day of the exam and other half 2 hours prior to exam. If a patient does not get the ReadiCat prep, then they need to arrive 1 hour prior to scan time to drink Gastroview prep.

* Note Diabetic Patients: If patient is taking Glucophage or Glucovance, and will be receiving IV Contrast for CT or IVP study, they must be off their medication 48 hours after their exam. (Referring Clinic: CDI needs a recent creatine level for the patient prior to exam day.)

ULTRASOUND PREPS

Abdominal | NPO 12 hours
Aorta | NPO 12 hours
Breast - None - need prior mammos
Carotid | No Prep
Fetal | Before 30 weeks = 20 oz. fluids 1 hour before; After 30 weeks=16 oz. fluids 1 hour before.
Gallbladder | NPO 12 hours
Liver/Pancreas/Spleen | NPO 12 hours
Pelvic | 32 oz. fluids 1 hour before
Renal | Clear liquids only 8 hours before, 20 oz. fluids 30 min. before.
Scrotal | No Prep
Thyroid | No Prep
Venous Doppler | No Prep
Cranial | No Prep
Extremity | No Prep
Arterial Color Flow Only | No Prep

DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC INJECTIONS

Pain Management
Bring driver. No pain medications 8 hours prior. No blood thinners or aspirin 48 hours prior. Bring current MRI films. All exams (except Discograms)

Discograms
Bring Driver. Off pain medications 8 hours prior. Off aspirin or blood thinners 48 hours prior.

Myelogram
Must have a driver. Must stay lying down 24 hours after exam. Off blood thinners/aspirin 48 hours. Off Anti-depressants/Tricyclics 48 hours. Drink lots of fluids the day before/day of/day after exam. NPO 1 hour