What happens during a pelvic and abdominal CT scan?
• Your caregiver will ask you to lie on your back on the table. Your caregiver may put an intravenous (IV) tube into your vein to give you medicine or liquids. Your caregiver may give you contrast before your CT scan. Contrast is a dye that helps the pictures show up on your CT scan. If contrast will be used for your CT scan, it may be given through your IV or as a drink. Your caregiver also may give your contrast through your nose or rectum (anus). • You must lie still during your CT scan. You may be asked to hold your breath for a few seconds as pictures are taken. The CT table will move through the hole in the middle of the machine. You will hear clicking sounds as the machine takes pictures. If you have contrast, pictures may be taken before and after the contrast is given. When the CT scan is finished, the table will move out of the hole in the middle of the machine.
