Preparing your child for a Radiology Study
- Preparation
- Intravenous Urogram (IVP)
- Voiding Cystourethrogram
- Retrograde Urethrogram
- Esophagram (Barium Swallow)
- Upper GI, Upper GI & Small Bowel, and/or Small Bowel Series
- Abdominal Ultrasound
- Renal Bladder/Pelvic Sonogram
- Hip Sonogram for Dislocation or Dysplasia
- Hip Sonogram for Effusion
- Barium Enema
Preparing your child for a Radiology Study
Your physician has requested that your child have a radiology study. Instructions to prepare for your child's exam are included below. It is important that these instructions are followed carefully to make sure that the study is as accurate as possible. If you have any questions, please call 800.758.5545, and press 4 when prompted to reach the office where the exam is scheduled. We will be happy to help you.
If your child is being scheduled for an IVP or a Barium Enema for polyps, masses, rectal bleeding or acute abdominal conditions, our radiologists will need to speak with your child's physician before you schedule the exam.
Intravenous Urogram (IVP)
Our radiologists will need to speak with your child's physician before we can schedule the exam.
Nothing by mouth for 3 hours prior to the exam. No solid foods on the day of the exam. Your child may drink the usual amount of fluids the evening before the exam. No laxatives or enemas are required.
Nothing by mouth 3 hours prior to the exam.
Insert 1/2 Dulcolax suppository the evening before the exam and a
1/2 suppository in the early morning the day of the exam.
Suppositories should be available at your pharmacy.
Nothing by mouth for 3 hours prior to the exam.
Insert 1 Dulcolax suppository the evening before the exam and 1
suppository in the early morning the day of the exam. Suppositories
should be available at your pharmacy.
Voiding Cystourethrogram
Retrograde Urethrogram
No preparation required.
Esophagram (Barium Swallow)
Nothing by mouth for 3 hours prior to the examination.
Upper GI, Upper GI & Small Bowel, and/or Small Bowel Series
Nothing by mouth for 3 hours prior to the exam. No solid foods after 6 PM of the evening before the exam. Clear liquids only. No milk or formula.
Nothing by mouth after midnight. No chewing gum on the day of the exam.
Abdominal Ultrasound
Hold one feeding prior to the exam. Bring a bottle with you.
Nothing by mouth for 3 hours prior to the exam.
Nothing by mouth for 4 hours prior to the exam.
Renal Bladder/Pelvic Sonogram
Your child should have a full bladder to get the best study. Encourage the drinking of clear fluids for 1 hour before the exam. If possible, have your child not urinate for 1 hour prior to the exam.
Hip Sonogram for Dislocation or Dysplasia
If your child is under 4 weeks of age or older than 6 months, a radiology physician must approve the study. Please call the office where the exam will be performed for instructions.
This study is best done when your baby is happy and calm, so please follow these instructions:
Do not feed your child for 2 hours before the exam, if possible. You should bring a full bottle with you and feed your infant during the exam.
You may nurse your infant just prior to the exam.
Hip Sonogram for Effusion
No preparation required.
Barium Enema
If we will be evaluating for polyps, masses, rectal bleeding or acute abdominal conditions, our radiologists will need to speak with your child's physician before we can schedule the exam.
All laxatives/enemas should be discontinued for 3 days prior to the scheduled exam if your child is being evaluated for constipation, Hirschsprung's disease, surgical follow-up, ulcerative colitis or an acute abdominal condition.
No other prep is required in these cases.
If your child is having a Barium Enema to check for a mass, polyp or has rectal bleeding, please follow the prep listed below. Dulcolax suppositories and Magnesium Citrate are available at your pharmacy. If you have any questions regarding what preparation to follow, please call the office where the study will be performed.
No solid food on the day of the exam.
No liquids for 3 hours prior to the exam.
Evening before the exam: Your child should eat a light, low residue
supper only such as: noodles, rice, ripe banana, saltines, melba
toast, white toast, clear broth, strained fruit juice, tender beef
or lamb, fish and/or eggs. Your child should not eat or drink any
milk or milk products. Insert 1/2 Dulcolax suppository the evening
before the exam.
On the day of the exam: Nothing by mouth for 4 hours prior to the
exam. Insert 1/2 Dulcolax suppository 3 hours prior to the exam.
Day before the exam: Your child should drink only clear liquids
for 24 hours before the exam. Encourage drinking large amounts of
non-dairy liquids during the time period when your child can drink,
but not milk or milk products. Have your child drink 5 ounces of
Magnesium Citrate at 6 PM the evening before the exam.
On the day of the exam: Nothing by mouth for 6 hours prior to the
exam. Insert 1/2 Dulcolax suppository early in the morning.
Your child should follow the preparation instructions for adults. If you need further information, please call us at the office where the exam will be performed.
- Preparation
- Intravenous Urogram (IVP)
- Voiding Cystourethrogram
- Retrograde Urethrogram
- Esophagram (Barium Swallow)
-
Upper GI, Upper GI & Small Bowel, and/or Small Bowel
Series - Abdominal Ultrasound
- Renal Bladder/Pelvic Sonogram
- Hip Sonogram for Dislocation or Dysplasia
- Hip Sonogram for Effusion
- Barium Enema