General Radiography Patient Preparation

Barium Enema

Two days before your appointment:

1. Purchase the following from your pharmacy: 
   • 1 bottle of magnesium citrate oral solution;
   • 3 Bisacodyl tablets; and
   • 1 suppository.
2. Do not eat anything after 6:00 pm.

On the day before the examination:

Breakfast

• Clear liquids only. Clear liquids include clear soup, plain Jell-O, clear juice (apple, grape, cranberry), strained orange juice or drink made with crystals such as Tang. Popsicle, pop (Ginger Ale or 7-Up). Tea or coffee. No milk or milk products.

12 Noon Lunch

• Continue clear liquids. No milk or milk products.

12:30 p.m. (or 1/2 hour after lunch)

• Drink entire bottle of magnesium citrate oral solution over ice. A strong bowel cleansing action should be expected in 3 to 6 hours after drinking this preparation.

1 p.m.

• Drink 225 ml (8 oz) water.

3 p.m.

• Take all Bisacodyl tablets with a large glass of water. Swallow tablets whole, one at a time (do not crush or chew the tablets).

4 p.m.

• Drink 225 ml (8 oz) water.

5 p.m.

• Liquid dinner.

6 p.m.

• Drink 225 ml (8 oz) water.

9 p.m.

• Drink 225 ml (8 oz) water.

10 p.m.

• Remove foil wrapper from suppository and insert into rectum as far as possible. Wait at least 10-15 minutes before expelling, if possible, even if the urge is strong.

On the day of the examination:

Do not have any food or fluids until after the examination. You may take your regular medications with a sip of water.

Bone Mineral Densitometry (BMD)

There are no special preparations required for this procedure.

Small Bowel Follow Through

• No food or drink after midnight the night before the exam.
• Take medication as normal the night before the exam. Delay taking your morning medication until after the exam, if possible. Essential medication may be taken with a sip of water.
• This procedure can take from 1 to 4 hours to complete.

Upper GI, Barium Swallow

• No food or drink after midnight the night before the exam.
• Take medication as normal the night before the exam. Delay taking your morning medication until after the exam, if possible. Essential medication may be taken with a sip of water.

X-ray

There are no special preparations required for this procedure.

How do I contact Diagnostic Imaging Services?

Queen Elizabeth Hospital
60 Riverside Drive
PO Box 6600
Charlottetown, PE   C1A 8T5

Telephone:  (902) 894-2944

Prince County Hospital
65 Roy Boates Avenue
PO Box 3000
Summerside, PE   C1N 2A9

Telephone:  (902) 438-4200

Souris Hospital
17 Knights Avenue
PO Box 640
Souris, PE   C0A 2B0

Telephone:  (902) 687-7150

Kings County Memorial Hospital
409 MacIntyre Avenue
PO Box 490
Montague, PE   C0A 1R0

Telephone:  (902) 838-0757

Community Hospital O'Leary
14 MacKinnon Drive
PO Box 160
O'Leary, PE   C0B 1V0

Telephone:  (902) 853-3163
Toll-free:  1-833-565-1380

Western Hospital
148 Poplar Street
PO Box 10
Alberton, PE   C0B 1B0

Telephone:  (902) 853-3163
Toll-free:  1-833-565-1380