Radiology - After having a CT colonography scan

You have been given this leaflet as you have had a CT Colonography scan (CTC scan).

Please read all of this leaflet. It contains important information about what to expect after your CTC scan.

You might wish to rest at home for the rest of the day, although most people are able to go about their normal daily activities.
You can eat and drink as normal after the scan. Please make sure that you drink plenty of fluids.

The carbon dioxide gas that was used to inflate your bowel will be absorbed quite quickly by your body. You might experience some mild discomfort for the rest of the day. This is very normal and should ease with time.

Re-starting medications

You may have been asked to stop taking some of your existing medications before your CTC scan. Please start your usual medications as normal when you get home from your scan.

Common side effects of having a CTC scan

X-ray dye

During the procedure you may have been given X-ray dye to improve the quality of the images. This would have been given through a small cannula (needle) in your arm. You may experience the following side effects 30-60 minutes after being given X-ray dye:

• A feeling of warmth, as if you have passed urine (wee)
• A metallic taste in your mouth
• Nausea (feeling sick)
• Vomiting (being sick)
• Itchy rash
• A bruise where you had the injection

Bowel preparation medication

Before coming to your appointment, you will have taken some medication to prepare your bowels for the scan. You may experience the following side effects after taking bowel preparation medicine:

• Headaches
• Nausea (feeling sick)
• Vomiting (being sick)
• Discomfort in the abdomen (tummy) and/or bottom
• Diarrhoea
• Dehydration

Carbon dioxide gas

Carbon dioxide gas will have been used during the procedure to inflate your bowel. This was so that images could be taken of your whole bowel. You may experience the following side effects after being given carbon dioxide gas:

• Bloating in your abdomen (tummy) during and after the scan. This should slowly improve with time.

Buscopan

It is likely that you were given a medicine called Buscopan during the scan, via a cannula (needle) in your arm. This was to relax your bowel muscles to help us to take better images. You may experience the following short-term side effects after being given Buscopan:

• Dry mouth
• Temporary blurred vision (this should wear off within 30-60 minutes)
• Tachycardia (fast heart rate)
• Dizziness (this should wear off within 30-60 minutes)

If you experience blurred vision, please do not drive until your vision has returned to normal.

In very rare cases, Buscopan can also cause urinary retention (being unable to pass urine) in some patients with underlying medical conditions. Please contact your GP or local accident and emergency department urgently if you suddenly develop symptoms of being unable to pass urine.

Rare but important side effects relating to your eyes

If you have a rare form of glaucoma (called narrow or closed-angle glaucoma) it is possible that using Buscopan can lead to high pressure within your eye. This reaction is very rare. However, if it does happen you MUST immediately seek help. If the symptoms are treated early, the side effects can normally be managed with no long-term effects to your vision. If left untreated there is a risk of vision loss.

Please note that most patients with glaucoma in the UK have open angle glaucoma. This means they are not at risk of this reaction.

Please seek help using the instructions below if you experience the following symptoms after your CTC scan.

Eye pain or brow ache together with any of the following:

• Halos (bright, colourful circles that appear around lights)
• Reduced vision. Please note that many people have some blurring of vision after receiving Buscopan. However, this usually wears off after 30-60 minutes and is not associated with eye pain
• Red eye (the white part of your eye looking red or ‘blood- shot’)
• Persistent nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting – please note that nausea is also a common side effect of other medications used during a CTC scan. However, this usually passes quickly. Persistent nausea or vomiting together with other symptoms listed above may be related to high pressure in your eyes

How to seek help with eye symptoms

You can get emergency advice from some local opticians through the NHS Community Urgent Eyecare Service. This is free of charge if you are registered with a Greater Manchester or East Cheshire GP Practice. You can find information about the service by visiting this link: https://primaryeyecare.co.uk/

You will need to use the website to find your closest optician who offers this service. Contact the optician to make an appointment before visiting. Take this leaflet with you to your appointment.

If you have symptoms outside of working hours, you cannot get a same-day appointment or you are not registered with a GP practice, please seek emergency eye care via:

• Manchester Royal Eye Hospital Eye Emergency Department (24h)
• Stepping Hill Hospital A&E (24h)
• Royal Bolton Hospital A&E (24h)
• Rochdale Infirmary Urgent Care Centre (24h)

Emergency eye care can also be accessed at Royal Albert Edward Infirmary A&E between the hours of 9am and 5pm.

Other side effects that require urgent medical advice

Most side effects following a CTC are mild and should ease with time.

Please seek urgent medical advice from your GP, NHS 111 or your local A&E department if you experience any of the following symptoms during the 4 days after the procedure:

• Severe abdominal (tummy) pain that does not get better
• Continued sweating, nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting (being sick)

Your scan results

A specialist will look at the images from your scan. They will send a report to the doctor or nurse who requested you to have the test. This doctor or nurse will contact you to discuss the results.

How can I provide feedback?

We want to hear your feedback about your CTC scan.

We have a feedback form, which you can access using the QR code below. Alternatively, you can ask for a paper version of the form when you are at your appointment.