HIDA scan

HIDA scan is an examination of the gall bladder and associated ducts around the liver.

If there is a possibility that you are pregnant or if you are currently breastfeeding please inform the department before your appointment as we will likely have to re-schedule.

Whenever possible, you should attend your appointment alone, unless you need a carer to support any additional needs.

Please allow three hours for your appointment.

• Do not eat for four hours before your appointed time (but no longer than 24hrs as this can affect your gallbladder filling).
• Please do not smoke on the day of your scan (or use nicotine in any form) as this can interfere with the quality of the pictures.
• Please bring food that has a high fat content (chocolate, pasty or similar) with you as you will be required to have this during the scan.

It is important you complete and return the enclosed green form. Please list all medication that you are taking including over the counter drugs. Some drugs need to be stopped two days before your appointment.

Firstly a cannula will be placed into a vein in your arm or back of the hands.

After this you will be taken into the scan room and positioned onto an imaging bed with a camera placed above your abdomen. Once in position you will have a small amount of radioactive tracer injected through the cannula. This will go to your liver and gallbladder and then will be excreted into the bowel. It emits gamma rays which will be detected by a piece of equipment called a gamma camera.

Immediately after injection, the first set of imaging begins which takes one hour. It is important that you remain as still as possible for your scan.

After the first set of images you will be asked to have something to eat.

Then we will carry out another scan for one hour.

All images will be checked before you leave the department. Occasionally images may be repeated or extra images acquired if necessary