Procedure manual-

GENERAL CT INFO
FOR EXAMS WITH IV CONTRAST EVALUATE FOR:
1. IODINE ALLERGY – IF YES – PT MUST BE BLOCKED, REDICAT USED, OR W/O
CONTRAST
IF PATIENT HAS IODINE ALLERGY---PT CAN BE BLOCKED USING THE
BLOCKING PROTOCOL:
PREDNISONE – TOTAL OF 4 DOSES (200MG) TO BE TAKEN.
50MG ORALLY EVERY 6 HOURS FOR A TOTAL OF 3 DOSES THE DAY PRIOR TO
PROCEDURE – 4TH DOSE TO BE TAKEN UPON COMPLETION OF PROCEDURE.

BENADRYL – 50MG ORALLY 1 HOUR PRIOR TO PROCEDURE

*USE REGULAR PREP IF PATIENT IS BLOCKED OR
*PATIENT CAN BE GIVEN READICAT FOR ORAL CONTRAST IF NOT BLOCKED
AND NO IV CONTRAST GIVEN OR
*EXAM CAN BE DONE WITHOUT CONTRAST - ACCORDING TO DOCTORS
RECOMMENDATION
READICAT PREP (FOR IODINE ALLERGY)
ABDOMEN: TWO SERVINGS OF CONTRAST. FIRST GLASS TWO HOURS BEFORE
EXAM---SECOND GLASS ONE HOUR PRIOR TO EXAM---NPO THREE HOURS PRIOR
TO EXAM---LIQUIDS ONLY TWO HOURS BEFORE THAT.
ABDOMEN/PELVIS: PATIENT TAKES TWO GLASSES OF CONTRAST. FIRST GLASS
IS TAKEN AT BEDTIME THE NIGHT BEFORE THE EXAM. THE SECOND GLASS IS
TAKEN ONE HOUR BEFORE THE EXAM. PATIENT IS NPO FOR THREE HOURS
PRIOR TO APPT. LIQUIDS ONLY TWO HOURS PRIOR TO NPO TIME.


2. DIABETES – IF YES – WHAT MEDICATIONS AND CURRENT LABS
(WITHIN LAST 45 DAYS) LABS (BUN & CREATININ)
THE FOLLOWING ORAL MEDICATIONS
NEED TO BE DISCONTINUED
FOR 48 HOURS FOLLOWING CT:
DO NOT NEED TO BE
DISCONTINUED AFTER CT

3. RENAL FUNCTION – IF IMPAIRED NEED CURRENT LABS
4. MRSA – IF YES & ACTIVE – EXTRA TIME SCHEDULED
5. WEIGHT – IF >400# CONTACT TECHS
6. PREGNANT (FEMALES 12-52YRS)
IF PREGNANT ASK GESTATIONAL AGE OF FETUS—CONTACT RADIOLOGIST REGARDING POSSIBILITY OF SCANNING PATIENT PATIENTS WITH HX PLASMA CYTOMA AND MULTIPLE MYELOMA---CONTACT
RADIOLOGIST REGARDING CONTRAST
PATIENTS ON DIALYSIS—WE NEED CURRENT LABS (EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW
THEY WILL BE HIGH)-IF PATIENT IS HAVING DIALYSIS WITH 24 HOURS OF CT USE
NORMAL IV AND ORAL PREP, IF PATIENT CANNOT TOLERATE ALL THE ORAL
PREP HAVE THEM DO THE BEST THEY CAN. IF THEIR DIALYSIS IS NOT WITHIN 24
HOURS STILL USE THE ROUTINE IV BUT ONLY ONE GLASS OF PREP ONE HOUR
BEFORE THE CT.
YOUNG CHILDREN REQUIRING SEDATION FOR CT WILL BE SENT TO WMC FOR
THE EXAM. CHILD NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO LIE VERY STILL FOR EXAM
CONTRAST GUIDELINES
STANDARD PROTOCOL IS IV CONTRAST WITH FOLLOWING EXCEPTIONS: • ORDERING PHYSICIAN REQUESTS ORAL CONTRAST • PATIENTS < 18YRS & < 80# MUST HAVE ORAL PREP • NO ORAL CONTRAST ON ADRENALS
IF ORAL CONTRAST IS REQUESTED PATIENT IS TO COME IN ONE DAY PRIOR TO
EXAM TO PICK UP CONTRAST AND INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO MIX IT AND WHEN
TO TAKE IT.
FOR CTS REQUIRING CONTRAST: NO SOLID FOODS FOR 3 HRS PRIOR TO
EXAM, BUT ENCOURAGE FLUIDS UP TO 1 HR PRIOR TO EXAM. – NPO 1 HR
PRIOR.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS:
CT UROGRAPHY: MUST ALSO SCREEN FOR CONTRAINDICATIONS TO
LASIX (HX ANURIA, GOUT, ALLERGY TO SULFA, LASIX, FUROSIMIDE) APPENDICITIS PROTOCOL: EMERGENCY EXAM – RECTAL CONTRAST
SOMETIMES USED FOR CHILDREN/PTS W/CONTRAINDICATIONS TO IV PULMONARY EMBOLISM: PATIENTS W/IODINE ALLERGY MUST BE
CT VIRTUAL COLONOSCOPY: SPECIAL PREP – COPY OF INSTRUCTIONS
CT ENTEROGRAPHY: (ABDOMEN/PELVIS) – PATIENT NEEDS TO PICK UP 3
BOTTLES OF VOLUMEN PRIOR TO APPT. DRINK BOTTLE #1-2 HRS PRIOR TO EXAM, BOTTLE #2 - 1 HR PRIOR TO EXAM, AND BOTTLE #3 - ½ HR PRIOR TO EXAM.

Source: http://www.caspermedicalimaging.net/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/CT-Info.pdf