|
Myelography is a very safe and effective means of
visualizing your spinal cord and nerve roots.
You should stop eating
by midnight the day before your exam. We want you to be well hydrated so
we encourage you to drink clear fluids up to and after your myelogram.
Clear liquids include water, juice, soup and tea or coffee without milk
or sugar.
Be sure to tell the doctor about any allergies you may have, especially
to contrast dye or fish. Please bring any x-rays you may have at home
with you to the Radiology Department when you come for your procedure.
These include MRIs, CT scans and plain spine x-rays.
Some medications you may be taking must be stopped 48 hours prior to
your myelogram, so it is very important that you let the doctor who is
requesting the test know all medications that you are taking so that, if
necessary, a medication may be temporarily stopped.
Keep in mind that you may have been given some additional or different
instructions, based on your own particular circumstances. If you have
any questions, please call our hotline 16171 or (202) 3336-3310 (Mohandeseen),
(202) 2417 5556 (Heliopolis) or (202) 2528 4888 (Maadi) to speak with a
radiologist if you have any questions. It is best to call between 10
a.m. and 10 p.m., Saturday through Thursday.
Back to top
The myelogram
takes about an hour.
When you get to Alfa Scan the radiologist will go over the consent form
with you and answer any questions you may have.
Then you will lie on the exam table on your stomach. Your back will be
cleaned with betadine antiseptic and you will be given some numbing
medicine on your skin. The needle will be placed in your lower back
under x-ray guidance.
X-ray contrast is then injected into the spinal fluid space and x-rays
are taken by tilting the table and changing the position of the x-ray
tube. The needle is then removed. Some images may be obtained using
X-ray imaging.
If a CT myelogram is requested, you will be taken for a CT scan. The
same contrast is utilized for the CT scan. The CT scan gives doctors
more information than just the myelogram alone. You will not receive any
more needles.
From the CT scan area you will go back to the recovery room, where you
will recover for a few hours.
Back to top
After the myelogram and
CT scan, you should keep your head elevated for eight hours. This keeps
the contrast fluid in your lower back, reducing the chance of any
contrast complications, the most common of which is headache.
You can eat and you should increase your fluids to help flush the
contrast out of your system. You may get up and walk to the bathroom but
you should try to take it easy for the rest of the day.
You can call your doctor the next day to get the results of your
procedure.
Back to top
Please call our hotline
16171 or (202) 3336-3310 (Mohandeseen), (202) 2417 5556 (Heliopolis) or
(202) 2528 4888 (Maadi) to speak with a radiologist if you have any
questions. It is best to call between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m., Saturday
through Thursday.
|
