CT Prep Info

Upper Abdomen

Eat a light dinner the evening before your exam and have nothing to eat or drink (NPO) after midnight. You may take your regular medications with small amounts of water. READI-CAT 2 is a light barium mixture. It allows the doctors to see and study your digestive system on the CAT scan. You need to drink it before your exam so the barium has time to travel throughout your digestive system, just as food does. Some people experience slight diarrhea from the barium. It is not necessary to keep READI-CAT 2 in the refrigerator, but it tastes better chilled. Shake READI-CAT well before drinking. Drink 10 oz. (two-thirds) of a bottle of READI-CAT one hour prior to exam. Bring remaining READI-CAT with you to your exam. Please check in at the main Hospital Admitting Desk 10-15 minutes prior to your exam.

Complete Abdomen (Abdomen and Pelvis)

Eat a light dinner the evening before your exam and have nothing to eat or drink (NPO) after midnight. You may take your regular medications with small amounts of water. READI-CAT 2 is a light barium mixture. It allows the doctors to see and study your digestive system on the CAT scan. You need to drink it before your exam so the barium has time to travel throughout your digestive system, just as food does. Some people experience slight diarrhea from the barium. It is not necessary to keep READI-CAT 2 in the refrigerator, but it tastes better chilled. Shake READI-CAT well before drinking. Drink the first bottle of READI-CAT 12-14 hours prior to your exam. Drink one-half of the second bottle 1 hour prior to your exam. Bring the remaining READI-CAT with you to your exam. Please check in at the main Hospital Admitting Desk 10-15 minutes prior to your exam.

Chest

No food or liquids three hours before exam. Please check in at the main Hospital Admitting Desk 10-15 minutes prior to your exam.

Sinus/Head

No preparation is needed. Please check in at the main Hospital Admitting Desk 10-15 minutes prior to your exam.

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