Bladder Scan
Instructions: Empty your bladder prior to your appointment time.
Instructions for imaging appointments:
ULTRASOUND ABDOMEN + PELVIS
No food or fluids after midnight before your exam. 1 hour prior to your exam, drink 1 litre of water. Do not urinate.
ULTRASOUND ABDOMEN:
No food or fluids after midnight before your exam. (Except to swallow necessary medications.)
ULTRASOUND PELVIS:
Drink 1 litre of water, 1 hour prior to exam. Do not urinate. You may eat normally.
ULTRASOUND KIDNEYS + BLADDER:
Finish drinking 1 litre of water, 1 hour prior to exam. Do not urinate. You may eat normally.
CT SCAN:
No food/fluids 4 hours prior to test. If you are a diabetic who is taking Glucophage or Metformin, talk to your family physician as these medications must be stopped for 48 hours after your exam.
RENAL SCAN:
Drink 3-4 glasses of water prior to the test.
BONE DENSITY TEST:
No barium studies within 14 days prior to test. No bone scan studies within 1 week prior to test.
All other tests: No preparation necessary unless you are otherwise instructed.
For more information on Imaging tests, including procedure descriptions, please refer to the website below:
St. Mary’s Hospital Diagnostic Imaging Dept.
Grand River Hospital Diagnostic Imaging Dept.
Prostate Biopsy
Instructions: Follow the directions in the Preparing for Your Prostate Biopsy booklet given to you at the time of booking. You should also receive a prescription for antibiotics, suppository, and fleet enema.
More information about prostate biopsies and a description of the procedure can be found in this pamphlet: Prostate Ultrasound and Biopsy
Kidney (Renal) Biopsy
Preparing for Your Appointment:
- A nurse from the hospital will call you to give you the date and time for your test. S/he will ask you about your health history, medicines you take, and any allergies you may have, as well as provide detailed instructions on how to prepare for your test.
- If you take anti-blood-clotting medications (like Aspirin, Coumadin, Plavix) you may need to stop taking it before this test. Your urologist will tell you when to stop taking this medicine.
- You will need to arrange for a friend or family member to drive you home from your appointment, and stay with you for 24 hours afterward.
The Day of your Kidney Biopsy:
Eat breakfast early, and do not eat or drink anything after 8:00 AM. Tou may take your medicine as normal. If you have diabetes, bring your glucometer and insulin with you to the hospital.
Description of procedure: You will arrive at the hospital, and be admitted. A blood sample will be drawn, and an intravenous (IV) will be placed in your arm for fluids and/or pain control. The radiologist will do the biopsy test in the ultrasound or CT department, and this takes about 20 minutes. A nurse will care for you for up to 4 hours after the biopsy, and provide pain medication if you need it. Lunch will be provided, and you will be discharged with recovery instructions to follow at home.