How long does the procedure take?
The amount of time depends on the
type of procedure
you are having.
The following are a list of exams, the preparation needed and
approximate length of the exam:
Patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding should inform their
doctor and the technologist prior to the test.
Biliary (HIDA)
Scan -
Nothing
to eat or drink for 4 hours.
Procedure
takes 1 ½ hours.
Bone Scan -
No
preparation
Procedure
takes 10 minutes
for injection, 2-3 hour wait, pictures take 1 hour.
Cardiac
Perfusion -
Stop
taking beta blockers 48 hours before appointment. Stop
taking Theophylline products 4 days before appointment.
Hold diabetic medications the morning of the procedure.
A LIGHT breakfast the day of the test and no caffeine
for 2 days, i.e., tea, coffee or chocolate, prior to the
test.
The test
requires two pictures of your heart, one at rest and one
after stress. The stress test may either be a on a
treadmill or with a medication as determined by your
doctor.
Procedure
takes
4-6 hours
Gallium -
No
preparation.
Injection 1st day, imaging on second day.
Procedure
takes 30-40
minutes.
Liver/Spleen
- No
preparation.
Pictures
take
45
minutes.
Liver with
Tagged Red Cells -
No
preparation. Pictures
are taken 1 hour after injection and repeat pictures at
3
hours after injection.
Procedure
takes 4 -
4 ½ hours.
Lung Scan (VQ
scan) -
No
preparation. Will need a chest x-ray done within 24 hours.
Procedure
takes
1 hour.
MUGA -
No
preparation.
Procedure
takes
1 hour.
Renal Scan -
Drink
3-4 glasses of fluid prior to arrival.
Pictures
take
approximately ½ -
1 hour (will depend if Lasix, a diuretic is
required).
Thyroid
Uptake and /or Scan -
No
thyroid medication for 2 weeks, no IVP or CT contrast
for 2 months, no Kelp or Vitamins with Iodine for 2
weeks. The
thyroid uptake requires 15 minutes the first day for a pill,
imaging at 4 hours later on the same day (this takes 10
minutes) and repeat imaging the second day (also 10
minutes). The thyroid uptake and scan are often
combined. The
thyroid scan takes 30 minutes.
Procedure
takes
approximately
4½ hours 1st day and 40 minutes the 2nd
day.
