What is a HIDA scan and when is it needed?
The hepatobiliary (HIDA) scan is used to diagnose problems of the liver, gallbladder and bile ducts. This exam will show the function (ejection fraction) of your gallbladder.
Indications:
- Abdominal pain
- Acute or chronic cholecystitis
- Epigastric pain
- RUQ pain
- Bile leak
- Post-surgical biliary tract obstruction
What are the risks?
Please let the office know if you are pregnant and/or breastfeeding, as the radiotracers maybe harmful to a fetus.
The risk to other people is very low, so these scans are considered safe and effective ways to diagnose disease.
How do you prepare for a HIDA scan?
- Hepatobiliary (HIDA) - NPO x 4 hours
- Bile Leak - no restrictions except no narcotics for 24 hours
- No narcotics for 24 hours
- Previous ultrasound
- Wear comfortable clothing
- Your doctor may include guidelines on any medications you are taking
How does a HIDA scan work?
HIDA (gallbladder function) - 90-120 minutes
A nuclear medicine technologist starts an IV in your arm. A small amount of radioactive material is injected into the IV. Once the radiotracer is injected, a special camera is used to take images of over your abdomen to track the flow of bile from your liver to your small intestine and to make sure the gallbladder is visualized, this scan will take about 45-60 minutes. Once the gallbladder is visualized, a synthetic hormone (Kinevac) is injected over 10 minutes, which will make your gallbladder contract and empty, images are continued for another 20 minutes.
Bile Leak (gallbladder removed) - 60 minutes
A nuclear medicine technologist starts an IV in your arm. A small amount of radioactive material is injected into the IV. Once the radiotracer is injected, a special camera is used to take images of your abdomen to track the flow of bile from your liver to your small intestine this scan will take about 60 minutes.
What should I expect after my HIDA scan?
It usually take 24-48 hours for your doctor to receive a report. Drink plenty of fluids to help flush the radiotracer out of your body, what does not get flushed out of your body will decay out. There are no other restrictions.