FAQs
Can I have someone else pick up my prep from the hospital?
Do I have to drink the same type of preparation as I did for my conventional colonoscopy?
Can I use an alternative bowel preparation?
What do I do if I have forgotten to drink my barium at the scheduled time?
Does having cardiac and renal problems affect the bowel preparations I take?
What do I do differently to prepare for my virtual colonoscopy if I am diabetic?
What do I do if I am usually constipated?
Do I stop taking my medications for my virtual colonoscopy?
Can I have this procedure if I am pregnant?
Can I still have a virtual colonoscopy if I am in a wheelchair?
Does a CT colonoscopy (or virtual colonoscopy) involve more radiation than a conventional CT scan?
What are my other options for colon cancer screening?
What happens if I decide not to have my virtual colonoscopy?
Can I have someone else pick up my prep from the hospital?
If you cannot pick up your preparation kit yourself the week before your appointment, you are more than welcome to have a family member or friend to pick it up for you at the CT bookings area at the hospital.
Do I have to drink the same type of preparation as I did for my conventional colonoscopy?
For best results your bowels must be cleansed. To do this you must take a laxative. There are several types of laxatives, however, for virtual colonoscopy, the laxative you will need to orally ingest is Pico Salax.
Can I use an alternative bowel preparation?
A lot of bowel preparations leave a residue in the colon which can interfere with the quality of the CT. We therefore prefer that you use our bowel preparation. However, if you have specific medical reasons why you think you shouldn't, we would be happy to speak with you.
I am concerned because I have completed drinking my Pico Salax, however I have not had a bowel movement. What could have caused this to happen?
Many of your other medications could have caused this. For instance, pain medications such as phentanyl can cause adverse affects such as constipation. In this situation, we will have to reschedule your virtual colonoscopy and ask you to follow a three day preparation with a low residue diet. This will help you cleanse your bowels while taking your needed medications.
What do I do if I have forgotten to drink my barium at the scheduled time?
If you have forgotten to drink your barium at its scheduled time, continue to follow the preparation instructions, and just remember to drink it on the next scheduled time
Does having cardiac and renal problems affect the bowel preparations I take?
If you have significant cardiac or renal problems please let our bookings office know prior to booking in case it has any impact on the bowel preparation offered to you.
What do I do differently to prepare for my virtual colonoscopy if I am diabetic?
If you are a diabetic please inform our bookings office at the time of booking so we can offer you an earlier appointment in the morning. As you will not be eating on the day of the study we usually ask you to defer your medication until after the test has been completed and you have eaten.
If you take Metformin for your diabetes please inform the CT technologist at the time of the study. We sometimes ask you to stop it for a period of 48 hours if intravenous dye is administered (not in all cases).
What do I do if I am usually constipated?
Please inform us if you are usually constipated. In this case we would advise you to follow the Low Residue Diet Bowel Preparation.
Do I stop taking my medications for my virtual colonoscopy?
No we suggest you continue to take your medication routinely other than if you are a diabetic (see above)
Is the size of the rectal catheter for a virtual colonoscopy the same size for the conventional colonoscopy?
No. The size of the rectal catheter for a virtual colonoscopy is approximately half the width of a catheter for a traditional colonoscopy, and about the length of a pinky finger (1.5 inches).
Can I have this procedure if I am pregnant?
No, CT scans are not recommended for patients who are pregnant because of the radiation dose involved.
Can I still have a virtual colonoscopy if I am in a wheelchair?
Yes. However, please tell us in advance so we can provide the proper accommodations for the day.
Does a CT colonoscopy (or virtual colonoscopy) involve more radiation than a conventional CT scan?
Yes, CT Colonoscopy does involve a higher dose than a conventional CT of the abdomen (average dose 2-6 mSv per scan) as it involves taking images in two or possibly more views. The dose received is however comparable to a conventional barium enema. For further reading on this matter please refer to
What are my other options for colon cancer screening?
Other options available for detecting colon cancer and/or polyps include fecal occult blood testing, air contrast barium enema, flexible sigmoidscopy, and fiber optic colonoscopy.
What happens if I decide not to have my virtual colonoscopy?
Our policy is to confirm your appointment 72 hours before your examination. Please note that if you are cancelling your appointment, you must give the booking staff a minimum of 3 business days notice so that we have the opportunity to offer this spot to another patient.
