Renal Lasix Scan

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Your physician has requested that you have a renal lasix scan. This test is a simple, noninvasive way to evaluate how well your kidney function. The lasix renal scan is a two-part study. The renal scan is performed first the lasix washout is performed second. There are no dietary restrictions either before or after the examination. It is extremely important that you are well hydrated prior to your study. We will require you to drink 3-4 cups of water prior to the test. The test requires an injection in an arm vein through an intravenous catheter. This injection consists of a very small amount of radioactive material. The radioactivity associated with the renal scan is negligible, and there are no ill effects from it. The total estimated time of this test is approximately 1 hour.

To outline our requirement, you will:

1. After registration report to Medical Imaging.
2. You will then be escorted to Nuclear Medicine.
3. The technologist will direct you to drink 3 - 4 cups of water.
4. The technologist will position you (on your back) on a scanning table.
5. You will receive an injection into the intravenous catheter, which contains the radioactive compound used to generate the images.
6. Images of your kidneys will be taken for 10 minutes.
7. At the end of the 10 minutes the second phase of the test will be performed (the diuretic or Lasix part), the lasix will be administered intravenously.
8. Images for at least an additional 20 minutes will be obtained while you lay on the same position as before.
9. Once your bladder becomes full and you must urinate please inform the technologist so that the imaging can be stopped.
10. You will then be escorted to the rest room where you may empty your bladder.
11. After you bladder has been emptied a second 1-minute image of your kidneys and bladder will be acquired.
12. Once these images are complete you will be released from Nuclear Medicine.

A Radiologist will read the test and a report will be sent to the ordering physician.