CT Enterography is a non-invasive examination of the small bowel using CT.
You will need to fast for 6 hours prior to your scan. You will be asked to present to the department 2 hours prior to your appointment time to commence your oral contrast. Small sips of water to assist with taking regular medication is permitted. Please let the staff know if you have any allergies to iodine or any other medications.
You will be asked to arrive 2 hours before your CT scan. This allows time for a series of drinks to be administered to maximise the visualisation of the small bowel. The CT scan itself will take approximately 10-15 minutes.
If you have a colostomy/stoma bag, you may wish to bring a replacement bag with you to your appointment. If you have any concerns about the effect of a volume of fluid on your stoma output, please contact the Practice.
The procedure will involve a series of drinks (Metamucil or Lactulose) to help visualise the small bowel more clearly. This is followed by hi-resolution multislice helical CT of the entire abdomen.
Metoclopramide (Maxolon) can sometimes be given with the oral contrast to promote gastric emptying/small bowel peristalsis and IV Buscopan is given immediately prior to scanning to slow the small bowel smooth muscle in order to slow down bowel motion for the study.
Please note that an injection of CT contrast (Iodinated contrast) will also be administered to show the small bowel more clearly.
The drinks administered for the test may have a mild laxative effect in some patients.
There are also some complications that may occur in relation to the CT contrast injection. Occasionally (one chance per 1000 injections) mild allergic reactions such as rash, hives or sneezing can occur and again these usually develop at the time of the procedure. Sometimes these symptoms may occur as a delayed reaction most often within 30 minutes, usually do not require treatment and settle rapidly.
You may also experience blurred vision and a dry mouth from the Buscopan injection.
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