Fluoroscopy is an imaging technique which uses x-rays to take images of the body in real time that can be viewed on a monitor and digitally recorded. This is especially useful for guiding a variety of diagnostic and interventional procedures.
Fluoroscopy is an imaging technique which uses x-rays to take images of the body in real time that can be viewed on a monitor and digitally recorded. This is especially useful for guiding a variety of diagnostic and interventional procedures.
Applications include examinations of the digestive tract (barium meal, barium enema), reproductive organs and the urinary system (genito-urinary system).
In most fluoroscopy procedures radiographic contrast agents are used to highlight organs that normally can only be seen as shadows on a plain radiographs. Contrast agents include barium, air, and iodinated contrast media.
Preparation instructions for a Fluoroscopy will vary, and will be dependent upon the procedure required, area of interest and your medical history. You will be provided with special instructions upon making your booking for your Fluoroscopy.
This may include fasting (generally 4 hours), however this will be explained to you at the time of the booking.
You will need to bring:
When you attend your appointment for Fluoroscopy at Lake Imaging you will be asked to answer a few safety questions, remove any jewellery, watches etc, then change into an examination gown. Depending upon the test you are having done, you may be given a contrast agent which is introduced through ingestion, an enema, or an injection through a vein, usually at the elbow.
Our staff will explain the procedure to you. You will be asked to lie on an x-ray table in a position that enables optimal visualisation of the area of interest, and you may be asked to hold your breath for a few seconds, to reduce movement. The length of the examination varies according to the type of type of procedure and the body part being examined, but you should expect to be with us for at least an hour.
Fluoroscopy post care is dependent upon the type of procedure. For many studies you can return to normal activities straight away, however, for some you may be required to arrange transport to and from your appointment. Any post-procedure care will be fully explained at the time of booking. You should contact your doctor if you notice any pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site as this could be an allergic reaction.
One of our Radiologists (a doctor specialising in the interpretation of medical images), will prepare and send a report to your referring doctor detailing the findings of your examination. It is very important you book a timely follow-up appointment to discuss your results. If your results are urgent, or you have an appointment straight after the scan with your doctor or health care provider, Lake Imaging will arrange to have your results available immediately delivered to your referring doctor.
As with any medical procedure there is always a chance of complication. Infection resulting from this fluoroscopy procedure is extremely rare, but on rare occasions, a person may have an allergic reaction to the x-ray contrast.
X-rays require the use of ionising radiation. As with all x-rays, there is always a slight risk as you will receive a small dose of radiation. X-rays are only performed where it is deemed the benefit of the examination will outweigh any potential risks. At Lake Imaging you can be assured that using the latest technology and with staff trained in radiation reduction techniques, radiation doses are kept as low as reasonably possible. Our state of the art x-ray equipment uses minimal amounts of x-rays to produce the best quality images for a diagnosis.
If you are, or may be pregnant, please inform our radiology team before your examination.
A barium enema uses fluoroscopy to obtain x-ray images of your lower gastrointestinal tract (which includes your rectum and colon). This procedure involves the use of a liquid suspension of barium sulphate. Barium is a chalky white liquid that enables the gastrointestinal tract to be seen on x-ray images
Your doctor may refer you for a barium enema to investigate the possibility of an abnormality in your lower gastrointestinal tract.
The preparation for a barium enema involves cleansing of the bowel using Picolax bowel preparation. It is essential for this examination that the bowel is as clear as possible otherwise the examination may need to be repeated.
At the time of booking you will be given Picolax and detailed instructions for your bowel preparation which you are required to begin two days prior to your appointment.
Lake Imaging recommends that someone should accompany you to and from your appointment.
Please bring your referral form, any relevant previous imaging, along with your Medicare card and any other concession cards.
During a barium enema examination, you will be required to change into a gown, with your underwear removed and lie on an examination table. A lubricated enema tube will be gently inserted into your rectum. A barium bag will be connected to the tube to slowly introduce the barium solution into your colon.
The barium solution temporarily coats the lining of your colon. This provides a silhouette of the shape and condition of the inner lining of your colon on X-ray images. Air may also be introduced to expand the colon and improve the quality of images
The tube that is used to introduce the barium has a small balloon near its tip. When positioned at the entrance of your rectum, the balloon helps keep the barium inside your body. As your colon fills with barium, you may feel the urge for a bowel movement. You will be asked to take long deep breaths and resist the urge to expel the tube. Abdominal cramping may sometimes be experienced. This will resolve shortly after the barium is removed.
You will be asked to turn and hold various positions on the examination table. This helps to ensure that your entire colon is coated with barium and allows the radiologist to examine the colon from various angles. You may also be asked to hold your breath several times throughout the examination.
After the examination, most of the barium will be drained from your colon through the enema tube. When the tube is removed, you will be able to use the toilet; this will enable you to expel additional barium and air. You will be free to leave the clinic shortly after the procedure and you may return to normal activity the following day. You may eat and drink normally.
If medically urgent, or you have an appointment immediately after your x-ray to see your referring doctor or health care provider, Lake imaging will arrange to have your results available immediately. Otherwise, your referring doctor or health care provider will receive your report within 48 hours of your examination.
Please ensure that you make a follow up appointment with your referring doctor or health care provider to discuss your barium enema results.
If you had bowel surgery with the creation of a stoma or ileostomy (a direct opening from your bowel via the abdomen) your doctor may ask for this study for one of two reasons. To check the healing of your stoma or ileostomy, and make sure that it is not leaking. Or to establish whether the anastomosis (joining of two sections of bowel) has healed and your stoma/ileostomy can be reversed.
If the doctor is wanting to check your stoma, a small tube will be inserted through the opening in your abdomen and contrast agent injected to coat the lining. If the doctor is checking anastomosis as above a small tube will be inserted into the back passage.
If you fall into this category you do NOT need to go through the bowel prep or two-day fluid diet and a 6-hour fast is sufficient. The doctor will usually use Gastrofraffin for post-surgical enemas, an alternative contrast that is suitable for cases where an internal leak may be present. If we are checking your stoma the gastrograffin inserted will drain back into your pouch after it is reconnected, so it is recommended you bring a spare as it may fill up quicker than normally expected.
Barium swallow and barium meal examinations are performed to examine the oesophagus (the tube connecting the mouth and the stomach) and stomach. Barium is a chalky white liquid that when swallowed enables the oesophagus and stomach to be seen on an x-ray image.
A barium swallow or meal requires you to swallow a liquid suspension of barium sulphate before a series of X-rays are taken of your upper digestive tract.
In a barium swallow, x-ray images are taken of your pharynx (throat) and your oesophagus. A barium meal examines the stomach and the beginning of your duodenum (the first section of your small intestine that takes food away from your stomach). A barium meal examination is often performed immediately after a barium swallow.
You may be referred to Lake Imaging for barium swallow or barium meal examinations by your doctor to investigate or eliminate the possibility of an abnormality in your upper digestive tract.
A referral from a doctor and an appointment are required for barium swallow and barium meal examinations.
You must have nothing to eat or drink for four hours prior to your examination.
Before the procedure begins at you will be asked to change from your clothes into a simple gown so that folds of clothing and metal fasteners do not interfere with the acquisition of clear x-ray images.
In the x-ray room you will be positioned on the x-ray fluoroscopy machine, then given instructions for swallowing the barium solution while the x-ray images are taken. This may be performed a number of times with you in varied positions. During these procedures you will usually be required to swallow about one cup in total.
If x-rays are to be taken of your stomach (barium meal), you may also be asked to drink a small amount of two other liquids, these liquids combine to produce a gas that expands your stomach, making it easier to detect any abnormalities in its lining. This can make you feel a little ‘gassy’, but you will be asked to resist the urge to burp so that the gas remains in your stomach until after the x-rays have been taken.
Once your examination is complete you will be free to leave and return to normal activity. You may eat and drink normally. We recommend that you drink plenty of extra fluids for the next 24hrs to ensure that all of the barium consumed in the examination is passed through the bowel.
If medically urgent, or you have an appointment immediately after your x-ray to see your referring doctor or health care provider, Lake imaging will arrange to have your results available immediately. Otherwise, your referring doctor or health care provider will receive your report within 48 hours of your examination.
Please ensure that you make a follow up appointment with your referring doctor or health care provider to discuss your results.
HSG (Hysterosalpingography) is an x-ray procedure that is used to view the inside of the uterus and fallopian tubes. It gives information about the shape of the cavity of the uterus and helps determine if fibroids are distorting the cavity of the uterus.
Your doctor may also refer you to Lake Imaging to determine if fallopian tubes are open or blocked. No information is obtained regarding the ovaries or outer contour of the uterus as part of an HSG procedure. Women who have a normal hysterosalpingogram have increased fertility rates after the procedure. This is believed to result from a “flushing” out the fallopian tubes that occurs in the HSG procedure.
A referral from a doctor and an appointment are required for barium swallow and barium meal examinations.
You must have nothing to eat or drink for four hours prior to your examination.
Before the procedure begins you will be asked to change from your clothes into a simple gown so that folds of clothing and metal fasteners do not interfere with the production of clear x-ray images. You will be asked to lie on the examination table.
The radiologist (a specialist medical imaging doctor) will insert a smooth, curved speculum, just like for a pap smear and cleanse the cervix with antiseptic. A thin catheter (tube) will be inserted into your cervical canal. Some women feel slight cramping during this part of the procedure. A tiny balloon will be inflated to hold the catheter into position. The Radiologist will then remove the speculum. A small amount of contrast dye will be injected through the catheter in order to fill the uterine cavity. A series of live x-ray images will be taken while the dye is injected and the Radiologist will watch to observe if the contrast flows through one or both tubes. If the fallopian tubes are open, the dye will flow through them and spill into the belly where it will be absorbed naturally by the body. After the images are taken, balloon will be deflated and the catheter removed.
This procedure usually takes around 30 minutes.
Once your examination is complete you will be free to leave and return to normal activity. You may drive yourself home and eat and drink normally.
Some women will have slight cramping throughout the first day after the procedure. The x-ray contrast is clear and sticky so throughout the day, expect a discharge of contrast. Slight bleeding is no cause for concern.
Please contact our clinic or your local doctor if you experience any concerning symptoms.
Most women are ovulating days after the HSG you may try and conceive unless your doctor has instructed otherwise.
If medically urgent, or you have an appointment immediately after your examination to see your referring doctor or health care provider, Lake imaging will arrange to have your results available immediately. Otherwise, your referring doctor or health care provider will receive your report within 48 hours of your examination.
Please ensure that you make a follow up appointment with your referring doctor or health care provider to discuss your results.
As with any medical procedure there is always a chance of complication. Infection resulting from this procedure is extremely rare, but on rare occasions, a person may have an allergic reaction to the x-ray contrast.
Micturating cystourethrogram (MCU) is an x-ray study of the bladder and urethra.
You may be referred by your doctor to Lake Imaging for an MCU to investigate or eliminate the possibility of:
A referral from your doctor and an appointment is required for an MCU examination.
When making your appointment please advise us if you have had a previous allergic reaction to x-ray contrast.
Before the procedure begins you will be asked to change from your clothes into a simple gown so that folds of clothing and metal fasteners do not interfere with obtaining clear x-ray images. Your examination will be carried out by a Radiologist (a medical doctor specialising in the interpretation of medical images).
A thin, flexible tube called a catheter will be gently inserted using a lubricant into the bladder through the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body).
Once the catheter has been inserted, x-ray contrast is injected through the catheter and into the bladder so that the bladder can be seen on the X-ray images. You may be asked to roll slightly from side to side so different parts of the bladder or urethra can be imaged. Once the bladder is filled the catheter will be removed and you will be asked to empty your bladder while X-ray images are being taken to show how the urethra is working.
Once your examination is complete you will be free to leave and return to normal activity. You may eat and drink normally.
If medically urgent, or you have an appointment immediately after your examination to see your referring doctor or health care provider, Lake imaging will arrange to have your results available immediately. Otherwise, your referring doctor or health care provider will receive your report within 48 hours of your examination.
Please ensure that you make a follow up appointment with your referring doctor or health care provider to discuss your MCU results.
You may experience some discomfort when urinating for the first time following your procedure due to irritation of the urethra from the catheter.
Infection resulting from this procedure is extremely rare.
On rare occasions, a person may have an allergic reaction to the x-ray contrast.
A portagram is a fluoroscopic examination to evaluate a Port-a-cath or other implanted venous access device for patency.
A Porta-a-cath is a small medical device that is implanted beneath the skin which is designed to permit repeated access to the venous system for delivery of medications.
A referral from your doctor and an appointment are required for a portagram examination.
Your port will need to be accessed prior to arriving for your appointment; your referring doctor will arrange this when making your booking.
Please advise us if you have had a previous allergic reaction to x-ray contrast.
Before the procedure begins at you will be asked to change from your clothes into a simple gown so that folds of clothing and metal fasteners do not interfere with the acquisition of clear x-ray images.
A small amount of x-ray contrast (dye) will be injected through the Port-a-Cath in order to fill the port and catheter. A series of live x-ray images will be taken while the dye is injected and the radiologist will watch to observe if the contrast flows through the catheter.
At Lake Imaging your examination will be carried out by a Radiologist (a medical doctor specialising in the interpretation of medical images), who will then prepare and send a report to your referring doctor detailing the findings of your examination.
After the portagram procedure is completed you will need to return to the chemotherapy unit to have the IV extension tube disconnected and the Porta-Cath flushed with heparinised saline.
You will be able to leave our clinic shortly after your portagram is completed. You may eat and drink normally, and you will be able to drive yourself home and return to your normal activities.
If medically urgent, or you have an appointment immediately after your portagram procedure to see your referring doctor or health care provider, Lake imaging will arrange to have your results available immediately. Otherwise, your referring doctor or health care provider will receive your report within 48 hours of your examination.
Please ensure that you make a follow up appointment with your referring doctor or health care provider to discuss your portagram results
On rare occasions, a person may have an allergic reaction to the x-ray contrast
A Retrograde urethrogram (RUG) is a diagnostic procedure performed most commonly in male patients to diagnose urethral pathology such as trauma to the urethra or urethral stricture.
It is a commonly used procedure in reconstructive urology for operative planning as well as a follow-up procedure after urethral reconstruction.
A referral from your doctor and an appointment are required for a Retrograde Urethrogram examination.
Please advise us if you have had a previous allergic reaction to x-ray contrast.
Before the procedure begins you will be asked to change from your clothes into a simple gown so that folds of clothing and metal fasteners do not interfere with obtaining clear x-ray images
A thin, flexible tube called a catheter will be gently inserted using a lubricant into the bladder through the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body).
Once the catheter has been inserted x-ray contrast is injected through the catheter and into the bladder so that the bladder can be seen on the X-ray images. You may be asked to roll slightly from side to side so different parts of the bladder or urethra can be imaged.
At Lake Imaging your examination will be carried out by a Radiologist (a medical doctor specialising in the interpretation of medical images), who will then prepare and send a report to your referring doctor detailing the findings of your examination.
Once your examination is complete you will be free to leave and return to normal activity. You may drive yourself home and eat and drink normally.
It is normal to feel some irritation with urination for 24 to 48 hours following the procedure. You may also note a small amount of blood in the urine. Infection resulting from this procedure is extremely rare, on rare occasions, a person may have an allergic reaction to the contrast dye
If medically urgent, or you have an appointment immediately after your examination to see your referring doctor or health care provider, Lake imaging will arrange to have your results available immediately. Otherwise, your referring doctor or health care provider will receive your report within 48 hours of your Retrograde Urethrogram.
Please ensure that you make a follow up appointment with your referring doctor or health care provider to discuss your results.
A conduitogram is a procedure used to check the anastomosis (join) of the ureters to the small bowel stoma your surgeon would have created.
There is no special preparation required for a conduitogram and you may eat and drink normally leading up to your appointment.
A referral from your doctor is required to perform this procedure please let us know if you have any allergies to iodinated IV contrast.
The doctor will clean your skin with a cold antiseptic solution and then a small tube (catheter) will be inserted into the stoma. The doctor may use a small balloon to help keep the tube in place during the procedure.
An amount of contrast will then be injected into the stoma via the catheter and x-rays will be taken to show the filling of your ureters with the contrast.
The catheter will be removed and some of the contrast will flow straight out. The rest will fill your pouch as your body naturally excretes it. You may find that your pouch fills quicker than you may normally expect and it is recommended that you bring along a spare.
There is no special aftercare for this procedure.
A defecating proctogram is a study used to look at the rectum and the actions of the internal muscles during a bowel motion. Your doctor may ask for this study as you have difficulty passing or holding onto bowel motions or to help determine the best surgical procedure to help resolve your symptoms.
Before a DPG you will be required to self-administer a local enema paste MICROLAX. This is a small tube of product which is inserted into the rectum and works to soften any stool and activate the muscles to aid you in having a bowel motion before the procedure begins, This should be performed an hour before your appointment time. If you are travelling in to your appointment you may perform this an hour before you need to leave home, or arrive at one of our centres an hour before you procedure and perform it once there.
There is no fasting required for this procedure.
For your procedure you will be taken into the xray room and introduced to the nurse and radiographer who will run you through the procedure. There will then be the opportunity to talk to the radiologist and explain your symptoms and ask any question.
The radiologist will then leave the room and the nurse will ask you to lie on your side on the bed. A small tube will be inserted into the back passage and a Barium paste will be introduced, it is important during this stage that you communicate with the staff and let them know if and when you feel ‘full’ and like you are ready to have a bowel motion. Any excess paste will then be wiped away and the Radiologist brought back into the room. You will be moved across to be sitting on a special commode and then given a series of instructions by the radiologist to see the movement on the muscles in your pelvic region. These instructions may include, squeezing your pelvic floor, straining and when to have a bowel motion.
It is important for this procedure that we replicate your normal bowel motions as much as is possible, including any external or internal manipulation that you may do at home. Please communicate with the radiologist any additional steps you may need.
Once you have passed the barium paste the radiologist will leave the room and you will be shown to a bathroom to change.
Occasionally for specific pathology your referring doctor may ask that you also have oral or vaginal contrast. Vaginal contrast will be a small amount of x-ray contrast mixed with a lubricant that will allow the radiologist to see the vaginal wall and any prolapse. Oral contrast will be three cups of a radiopaque liquid ioscan or barium, that will fill your small bowel and show the interaction of these muscles.
After this procedure you may return to normal activities straight away. Your next bowel motions may have a pale colour to them as there is a minute amount of residual barium left.
In conjunction with Victorian Clinical Genetics Services (VCGS), we now offer percept NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing) at our Sunbury and Melton clinics.
This simple blood test analyses DNA, comparing all 23 pairs of chromosomes to screen for conditions such as Down Syndrome
For more information, call us on 9744 5344 or contact your GP. Further information about the screening can be found at vcgs.org.au
*Please note: only the obstetric ultrasound scan performed in conjunction with NIPT is bulk billed, any other obstetric scans will incur an out-of-pocket fee.
I wish to access Lake Imaging Pty Ltd (Lake) Patient Archiving Communications System (PACS) and/or Radiology Information System (RIS) as described above.
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