Department of Diagnostic Imaging
Location: Suite 026
Director: Kurt Meehan, R.T.
Appointments: 216-382-2853
Hours: Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
General Description
What to Expect
How to Prepare
About the Department of Diagnostic Imaging
Registration Form
Notice of Privacy Practices and Patient Rights
General Description
A Gated Blood Pool Scan uses a special camera to take pictures of the heart after a small amount of a radioactive substance makes it visible. (The level of radioactivity is extremely low and has no side effects.) The scan shows how well the heart pumps blood to the rest of the body.
What to Expect
The technologist will put an IV adapter (a small flexible tube) into your vein and draw a small amount of blood. This blood will be mixed with a radioactive substance that will "label" or "tag" your red blood cells. The process will take 30 minutes. Upon completion of the process, the blood will be re-injected into your arm through the IV. The IV adaptor will then be removed. The technologist will position you on a padded table and attach three EKG leads to your chest. A camera will be positioned above you and three images will be taken of your heart as the "tagged" red blood cells circulate. The EKG leads will be removed when the test is complete. The scan will take approximately 1½ hours to complete. Your doctor will receive a written report approximately 48 hours after the scan.
- No smoking, alcoholic beverages or caffeine from 6 p.m. the night before the scan until after the scan is completed. Many soft drinks, cocoa and chocolate beverages and foods, as well as cold remedies, diuretics, and pain relievers contain caffeine, so please be sure to read all labels.
- Continue to take any medications you normally would unless your physician has instructed otherwise.
- Please arrive 10 minutes before your appointment and bring the requisition provided by your physician.