Procedures

This is an examination to image how you swallow, to see whether there are any problems in the oesophagus (gullet) and into the stomach.

Expected time in the department is 30 minutes.

Preparation

It is important that the stomach is empty for the examination so you will be asked to stop all food and drink for 6 hours prior to your appointment. You may take your normal medication with a little water if required. You may be asked to change into a gown in a private cubicle and to remove jewellery.

Procedure

You will be asked to stand or sit next to the x-ray machine and asked to drink an x-ray dye (contrast). You will be given instructions to take a mouthful and hold it in your mouth, then swallow when we are ready to take the x-rays. The drink may be a clear fluid containing iodine, or a chalky barium liquid. Sometimes we have to wait a little for the liquid to pass through the stomach depending on your individual symptoms, which will be discussed with you at the time.

Aftercare

There is no specific aftercare. You may begin to eat and drink as normal immediately after the procedure. If you have the white barium liquid, please note your stools may be a bit white for a couple of days.

This is an examination to image how your child swallows, to see whether there are any problems in the oesophagus (gullet) and into the stomach. Usually imaging is performed to look at the bowel as it leaves the stomach.

Expected time in the department is 30 minutes.

Preparation

It is important that the stomach is empty for the examination so your child will usually be asked to stop all food and drink for 4 hours prior to the appointment. This can also help ensure they are thirsty for our special drink. For those who are tube fed, we ask that the feed is stopped for 4 hours if possible, unless otherwise stated. Normal medication may be taken as required. Your child may need to be undressed, though we will maintain dignity as required. We can allow one parent or carer in the x-ray room but they will need to wear a lead coat.

Procedure

The procedure may be performed with your child either standing or lying down under the x-ray machine and they will be given a cup of x-ray dye (contrast) to drink. This can usually be flavoured with juice or milkshake powder, depending on the liquid used. This will be discussed with you and the child, as appropriate. Your child will be asked to drink the liquid, often through a straw, although a bottle or sippy cup is useful to bring from home if your child will find this more familiar. Images will be taken as the contrast passes though the oesophagus (gullet) and into the first part of the bowel (duodenum). Your child may be asked to roll or turn to facilitate the contrast passing through.

Sometimes contrast can be inserted through a feeding tube (NG or PEG). If this is the case, please ensure you bring any necessary connectors required for their tube.

Aftercare

There is no specific aftercare. Your child may eat and drink as normal immediately after the procedure. If they have the white barium liquid, please note their stools may be a bit white for a couple of days.

This is an examination to image your pelvic floor and rectum during defecation (going to the toilet). Expected time in the department is 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Preparation

There is no preparation for this procedure but you will be asked to attend the department 1 hour prior to your booked appointment time. During this time you will meet with the radiographer and be given a cup of x-ray dye (contrast) to drink. This needs time to work its way through part of the bowel to show it up on the x-ray. During this time you may eat and drink, and go to the toilet as needed.

Procedure

You will be asked to change into a gown in a private cubicle. A radiologist (doctor) will insert 2 syringes of white barium paste into your rectum. You will then be taken directly into the x-ray room to sit on a commode next to the x-ray machine. Screens will be placed around you for privacy. Images will then be taken as you evacuate the paste or attempt to evacuate. Clear instructions will be given by the healthcare professional.

Aftercare

There is no specific aftercare. You may notice your stools may be a bit white for a few of days due to the barium liquid passing through.

This is an examination to image your bladder, usually to check for leaks after an operation. Expected time in the department is 30 minutes.

Preparation

There is no preparation for this procedure, but the healthcare team will check that you have a catheter in your bladder. This may be through the skin, through the urethra, or both.

Procedure

You will be asked to change into a gown in a private cubicle. You will then be invited into the x-ray room to lie on a table under the machine. The radiologist (doctor) will use a sterile technique to insert some clear x-ray dye through your catheter and into your bladder. You will be asked to let us know when you feel your bladder is very full. Images will be taken from different angles once the bladder is full of contrast to ensure there are no leaks. The contrast is then removed before re-attaching the catheter bag.

Aftercare

There is no specific aftercare. You may have an appointment in clinic or on the ward afterwards to have the catheter removed if no leak is demonstrated. You will be told this by either the radiologist or clinic team. You will be directed to the clinic/ward by someone in the radiology team.

This is an examination to visualise the urethra (the tube running through the penis) to check for leaks or narrowing. Expected time in department is 30 minutes.

Preparation

There is no preparation for this procedure, but it is useful to not empty your bladder immediately before the procedure.

Procedure

You will be asked to change into a gown in a private cubicle. You will then be invited into the x-ray room to lie on a table under the machine. The radiologist (doctor) will use a sterile technique to insert a small catheter in to the tip of the penis and inflate a tiny balloon to hold it in place. We will then introduce x-ray dye (contrast) and take images. If possible we try to fill the bladder with the contrast, and once the bladder is full we stand the table up, give you a urine bottle and ask you to pass urine while we take more images of the other end of the urethra. This is not always possible, but the radiologist will discuss this with you at the time.

If you have had an operation and we are checking for a leak, you will already have a catheter in. In this case, we place a very small tube alongside your existing catheter and just image the operation site.

Aftercare

There is no specific aftercare. Patients who are waiting for catheter removal usually have an appointment in clinic 4a afterwards to have the catheter removed if no leak is demonstrated. You will be directed to the clinic after the procedure and will be given the results there.

This is an examination to visualise your kidney and its drainage to the bladder. Estimated time in department is 30 minutes.

Preparation

There is no preparation for this procedure.

Procedure

You may be asked to change into a gown in a private cubicle. You will then be invited into the x-ray room to lie on a table under the machine. The radiologist (doctor) will use a sterile technique to instil some clear x-ray dye (contrast) into your existing nephrostomy tube into the kidney. Images will be taken as the dye is put in to demonstrate your anatomy.

Aftercare

There is no aftercare following this procedure and you can usually go home straight away.

This is a very variable examination as it involves injecting x-ray dye (contrast) through a tube. Tubes can be in many places into the body. Examples include the stomach, bowel and gall bladder. Some tubes have special connectors so please ensure you bring any of your required connectors with you. Expected time in department is 30 minutes.

Preparation

There is no preparation for this procedure.

Procedure

You may be asked to change into a gown in a private cubicle. You will then be invited into the x-ray room to lie on a table under the machine. The radiologist (doctor) will use a sterile technique to instil some clear x-ray dye (contrast) into your tube to visualise its position and your anatomy.

Aftercare

There is no aftercare following this procedure and you can usually go home straight away.

Hysterosalpingogram (HSG) - information for patients | CUH

This is an examination to check the integrity of the bowel following surgery, to check the join is not leaking. Expected time in department is 30 minutes

Preparation

There is no preparation for this procedure.

Procedure

You will be asked to change into a gown in a private cubicle. You will then be invited into the x-ray room to lie on a table under the machine. The radiologist (doctor) will insert a very small catheter into the rectum to instil some clear x-ray dye (contrast) through the surgical join in the bowel while x-ray images are taken.

Aftercare

Following the procedure you will be taken to the toilet so you can evacuate the fluid from your bowel. We can provide you with a pad if you would feel more secure to go home.

This examination is to demonstrate the anatomy of a specific set of bowel loops. This can vary from patient to patient. Expected time in department is 30 minutes.

Preparation

There is no preparation for this procedure.

Procedure

You will be asked to change into a gown in a private cubicle. You will then be invited into the x-ray room to lie on a table under the machine. The radiologist (doctor) will insert a very small catheter directly into the bowel to instil some clear x-ray dye (contrast). This is often done through a stoma so please bring a change of stoma bag and stoma kit with you. X-rays are taken to show the anatomy of the bowel.

Aftercare

There is no aftercare following this procedure and you can usually go home straight away.

Micturating cystourethrogram (MCUG) – in children | CUH

This examination uses x-rays to visualise how your diaphragm moves. Expected time in department is 15 minutes.

Preparation

There is no preparation for this procedure.

Procedure

You may be asked to change into a gown in a private cubicle. You will then be invited into the x-ray room to stand next to the x-ray machine. A radiologist (doctor) will ask you to perform a combination of breathing and sniffing while imaging the movement of the diaphragm.

Aftercare

There is no aftercare following this procedure and you can go home straight away.

This procedure uses x-ray guidance to assist a radiologist (doctor) to inject anaesthetic and steroid into a joint space to help alleviate pain and stiffness, for example a frozen shoulder. Expected time in department is 30 minutes.

Preparation

There is no preparation for this procedure, but please contact us if you are on blood thinners, antibiotics, have had or are due to have a vaccination within 2 weeks of the appointment. It may be that we move the appointment or ask you to stop the blood thinners for a period before the procedure.

Procedure

You may be asked to change into a gown in a private cubicle. You will then be invited into the x-ray room to lie on a table under the machine.

Local anaesthesia is injected under the skin overlying the affected joint and when the skin is numb a small needle is inserted into the joint. A fluid that shows up on x-ray (contrast) will be injected into the joint. During the procedure you may be given an injection of steroid. The injection can result in worsening of your symptoms in the first 24 hours and you will be required to rest for 24 hours after this injection.

Aftercare

A plaster or dressing will be placed over the injection site, please try to keep it dry until the evening. You will not be insured to drive immediately following the injection, so please make arrangements for a lift or other form of transport to enable you to get home safely. There may be some discomfort in the joint for up to 24 hours after the procedure. We recommend that you do physiotherapy after the procedure and we will provide you with a sheet of exercises to perform.