DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING

Hida Scan

OVERVIEW
A Hida scan is designed to see if the gallbladder and the ducts to the gallbladder are working correctly.

This test usually lasts about 2 hours, but can take as long as 4 hours.

There are 2 parts to the Hida scan.

WHAT ELSE SHOULD I KNOW?
There are no side effects or risk of reaction to the isotope used in the exam.

A small amount of radioactive substance, not a dye, is used in this test.

Patient Preparation
The patient should have nothing to eat or drink 4-6 hours prior to the exam.

The patient should have no Barium studies within 1 week of the Hida scan

Patients will need an abdominal ultrasound before they come in for this test. They can have it up to 3 months prior to the hida scan.

If the ultrasound is not done at the hospital, a report needs to be sent or carried by the patient to Nuclear Medicine.

The Scan

The patient is injected in an arm vein and then placed under the camera to be scanned for one hour.

Once the gallbladder and small intestine show up, we continue to the second portion of the exam.

NOTE:

If the patient’s gallbladder has already been removed, we will not need to go to the second part of the exam.

Part Two:

Gallbladder Ejection fraction

A second injection will make the gallbladder contract and help the doctor determine if the gallbladder empties normally. This takes 25 minutes.

The Radiologist will send a report to the patient’s doctor in 2-3 days.

NUCLEAR MEDICINE DEPARTMENT
1 ELLIOT WAY
MANCHESTER,NH 03103
PHONE:
603 663 2539

This is intended for educational purposes only. Please call your Doctor with any other question you may have.

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