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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.