Kidney Scan (DMSA) Turnberg Building Nuclear Medicine University Teaching Trust

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1 University Teaching Trust Kidney Scan (DMSA) Turnberg Building Nuclear Medicine All Rights Reserved Document for issue as handout.

2 Please read this booklet carefully in conjunction with your appointment letter. Why do I need this scan? Your doctor would like you to come here for a kidney scan to look for any scarring of your kidneys and their individual function. You can opt to refuse this test but we strongly recommend that you should discuss this with your doctor before making a decision. Preparation for your scan l No special preparation for your scan however you should drink plenty before and after your scan. If you are taking any medication you should continue as normal. How is the scan performed? This test will take about 3 to 4 hours to complete. When you arrive in the department you will be given a small injection of a radioactive substance into a vein, usually in your arm. This injection circulates around your body and will be absorbed by your kidneys. This allows us to take pictures, called a scan, approximately 3 hours after your injection. During this waiting time you will be able to leave the department and will be free to eat and drink. There are no side effects from the injection; it does not make you sleepy or prevent you from driving a car. For the scan, you will usually lie on an imaging table with your arms down by your side, while a special camera, called a gamma camera, performs the scan. Usually there is no need to undress. You will need to remove jewellery, keys or other metallic objects from your person / pockets. The scan takes about 30 minutes, but can take longer depending on the individual. Having the scan does not hurt, but it is important that you keep still. If you are in pain please tell us and we will try to make you as comfortable as possible. 1 2

3 Risks and limitations l If you think you may be pregnant or you are breastfeeding you must contact us before the test date. l You might get a bruise around the injection site. l Side effects are not common, but some people may get a skin rash, a headache, upset stomach, vertigo or dizziness. l You will receive a small radiation dose of about 0.7 msv, which is similar to that for an abdominal X-ray. To put this in perspective, the average radiation dose received from natural background radiation in the UK in one year is just under 3 msv. After the scan After the scan, you can eat as normal and should continue to drink plenty of fluids for the rest of the day. This will help to remove the radioactivity from your body. The radioactivity should completely disappear within 24 hours. Please avoid prolonged close contact with children or pregnant women for the rest of the day. This is to avoid exposing babies and children to unnecessary radiation. What happens to the results? A report is sent to the hospital consultant who asked us to do the test. Allow at least 2 weeks for this. Nuclear medicine staff are not allowed to give patients the result of any tests directly. Can I bring a friend or relative? Yes, but they will be asked to remain in the waiting room whilst you are being scanned. Only essential carers may remain with you. You must let us know before your test date if you require a carer present. Please, do not bring children or pregnant adults with you as there may be other patients in the department who might expose them to a small but unnecessary amount of radiation. What if I cannot attend for my appointment? If you have any questions about your examination or cannot make the appointment, please telephone the help-line on: This is a 24 hour answer phone, but it is usually manned Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.00pm. If you prefer, or are not able to telephone please contact us via on: isotopes@srft.nhs.uk Please include your name, address, date of birth and hospital number (if known) on all correspondence. Please help us to cut our waiting lists. If you need to cancel or change your appointment call us as soon as you can so that we can use it for another patient. 3 4

4 I need an ambulance, how do I arrange this? If you need an ambulance contact: Salford residents Other areas Please inform the Nuclear Medicine department if you are arriving by ambulance. Interpreters If you need an interpreter for your examination please call the Nuclear Medicine department so that we can try to arrange this. Other sources of information We hope your questions have been answered by this booklet. For further information regarding nuclear medicine examinations visit the British Nuclear Medicine website: patients/ NHS 111 Service when less urgent than If you require further information about this test please contact: Nuclear Medicine, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Stott Lane, Salford, M6 8HD Notes 5 6

5 G W Design Services Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust All Rights Reserved 2017 This document MUST NOT be photocopied Information Leaflet Control Policy: Unique Identifier: CS 82 (16) Review Date: March 2019 University Teaching Trust For further information on this leaflet, it s references and sources used, please contact. Copies of this information are available in other languages and formats upon request. If you need this interpreting please telephone In accordance with the Equality Act we will make reasonable adjustments to enable individuals with disabilities, to access this treatment / service. InterpretationandTrans@srft.nhs.uk Under the Human Tissue Act 2004, consent will not be required from living patients from whom tissue has been taken for diagnosis or testing to use any left over tissue for the following purposes: clinical audit, education or training relating to human health, performance assessment, public health monitoring and quality assurance. If you object to your tissue being used for any of the above purposes, please inform a member of staff immediately. Salford Royal operates a smoke-free policy. For advice on stopping smoking contact the Hospital Specialist Stop Smoking Service on Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust Stott Lane, Salford, Manchester, M6 8HD Telephone If you would like to become a Foundation Trust Member please visit: for-members If you have any suggestions as to how this document could be improved in the future then please visit: for-patients