| |
The purpose of this study is to take pictures of the air and blood supply to your lungs. This is to help the doctor diagnose your condition, and give appropriate treatment as required.
The study will involve an intravenous injection in the arm, and a breathing test with a mouthpiece. All pictures are taken with sitting on a stool, however, should you prefer we are able to take pictures with you lying down on the couch for the entire study. In order to get good pictures, the gamma camera will be close and you will have to remain still. You do not normally need to take off clothing. Only removal of jewellery or metal objects is required. On occasions, it may be necessary for our doctor to request that you have a chest x-ray carried out as well.
If you are pregnant, or you think you might be pregnant, we need to know before the injection so that we can adjust the dose if appropriate. The present guidelines recommend that breast feeding needs to stopped for 12 hours after the injection. It is advisable to breast feed prior to injection, and/or express and store milk.
We would prefer that you do not bring more than one person with you. However it is advisable not to have a pregnant woman or a small child with you. This is to avoid exposing them to unnecessary radiation. It is also preferable to avoid prolonged close contact (hugging a child / sitting a child on your knee for more than half an hour) for the rest of the day.
You may eat, drink, and take your medication as normal.
The needle prick from the injection may hurt a little. Our doctors will be available during your stay in the department to answer any queries and to provide medical cover in case of any rare side effect from the injection we give you.
The amount of radioactivity you receive in this study is strictly within the recommended national level. At this level, the benefit to you from a diagnosis of your condition outweighs the risk (negligible) of any harm associated with the radiation you will receive.
You may eat as normal. The more fluid you drink the better, as the radioactivity is passed out in the urine. No extra precautions need to be taken when passing urine.
The Nuclear Medicine doctor will report the study; the result will be sent to the doctor who requested the study.