CT scan of the abdominal cavity

Computed tomography of the abdominal cavity is a fast, non-invasive, painless and safe way to diagnose the condition of the stomach, pancreas, spleen and intestine. Due to a 64-slice tomographic system Somatom Go. Up, manufactured by the German corporation Siemens, it is possible to conduct a quick and comfortable examination of the abdominal cavity and retroperitoneal space (CT of the kidneys, CT of the adrenal glands) at the "Oxford Medical" clinic in Kiev.

CT of the abdominal organs without a contrast agent does not require any preliminary preparation. Just before the examination, the patient needs to make sure that he is not wearing metal accessories and jewelry: watches, glasses, rings, chains, etc. If you are using a hearing aid, you will also need to take it off.

If a CT scan of the abdominal organs is carried out with the use of a contrast agent (CT of the intestine), then a few hours before the scan, a patient should stop eating and drinking fluids. Separate preparation is usually required for people with heart and kidney diseases, diabetes, allergies to iodine and seafood.

In case of heart diseases, an ECG and blood pressure measurement may be conducted before the examination, in case of kidney damage – tests to assess their work, in case of diabetes – measurement of blood sugar levels. Allergies, kidney failure, and heart failure may play a role of contraindications for CT scans.

If the examination is performed without a contrast agent, the patient simply lies face up on the slide-out table of the tomographic scanner, which is pushed into the tunnel of the scanner and the examination begins. If the examination is carried out with a contrast agent, then a catheter is inserted into the patient's vein beforehand. Through this catheter a contrast agent is supplied by an automatic injector. This method of introducing contrast allows administering a strictly necessary amount of it – no more and no less. In some cases the contrast fluid is not injected through the vein, but is simply drunk before the examination.

During the procedure the patient does not experience any unpleasant sensations or discomfort. His task during the CT scan is not to move, because any movement can lead to a bad quality of the image. Communication with the doctor, who is located in the adjacent office and is watching the progress of the study, is carried out by means of the intercom, which is built-in in the tomographic scanner.

After the study the patient is given a film with the obtained data and the conclusion of the diagnostician. If the study was conducted with the use of a contrast agent, it is recommended to drink more liquid after the examination. It will help to remove the contrast agent from the patient’s body.

You can make an appointment for a CT scan at the «Oxford Medical» clinic in Kiev by phone or using our chat on the website.