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Patient Information: Interventional Radiology
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Preparing for Interventional Radiology Exams
If conscious/IV sedation is required to complete the procedure, pre-procedure diet instructions vary by the patient's age.
Adults:
- Do not eat or drink 6 hours prior to procedure.
Children 2 years of age and older:
- Do not eat for 8 hours prior to procedure. Drinking clear liquids is okay up to 3 hours prior to procedure.
- Children between age 6 weeks and 2 years:
- Do not eat for 6 hours prior to procedure. Drinking clear liquids is okay up to 3 hours prior to procedure.
- Children under 6 weeks and premature newborns:
- Call the hospital department for special instructions.
- Morning appointments are recommended.
- Small sips of water taken with usual medications are recommended
To avoid delay or rescheduling of a procedure:
- Let a technologist know if you have had previous contrast/reactions allergies.
- Patient should consult with their physician about when to stop Coumadin prior to procedure.
- Most interventional procedures require laboratory work and placement of an IV in a hand or arm prior to procedure for the administration of fluids and other medications (most frequently antibiotics and / or sedatives) during the procedure.
- The length of time involved in interventional procedures varies. Patients, who receive pain medication or sedation, should plan for a 6 to 8 hour hospital stay. Occasionally, patients are kept overnight. Such patients must arrange for transportation home.
About Conscious / Intravenous Sedation
Sedation may be necessary in some circumstances to help a patient complete an imaging examination or interventional procedure. Sedation, administered by intravenous (IV) injection, is used to relieve patient discomfort, emotional tension and to achieve the patient's cooperation with the study or treatment.
The type and level of IV sedation selected by the radiologist will vary depending on the patient's age and the type of exam or procedure being performed. Under sedation, patient consciousness is maintained. Patients retain the ability to breathe on their own and respond to instruction, but they may not remember the experience.
Intraveoud sedation is administered to an adult by a registered nurse under the direction / supervision of the radiologist. Infants and children are administered sedation by a pediatric intensivist (physician) assisted by a pediatric nurse. Infants and young children generally require a lengthier period of post procedure observation than an adult.
Before the Procedure
It is generally advised that patients receiving sedation should have nothing by mouth after midnight before the procedure, with the exception of clear liquids and usual medications. Parents should contact the radiology department for special instructions with regard to very young infants.
Afterwards
It is generally recommended that patients take it easy for the remainder of the day and resume normal activities the following day.
After any examination or procedure involving IV or oral sedation, patients must not drive, operate machinery or make important (legal) decisions for 24 hours. Patients should rest quietly or the remainder of the day.
When the procedure requires and injection, some bruising may occur at the puncture site.
All patients are advised to increase their fluid intake. Drink 5 to 6 eight-ounce glasses each day for 2 days. Increase of fluid intake to flush contrast from the body is essential to flush out the kidneys unless the patient is fluid restricted.
Patients with diabetes, who are currently taking Glucophage or Metformin, are strongly advised to stop taking these medications for 24 to 48 hours following interventional procedures where contrast materials are administered.
Diabetic patients should restart medications when normal renal function is assured by renal function test.
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