What is a CAT Scan? Actually, CT or CAT scans have nothing to do with cats. CT Scans are a way for doctors to take pictures of the inside of your body.

What does the CT machine look like? The CT is a big, round machine with a short tunnel that holds a camera. It looks like a big doughnut and has a narrow bed. The CT machine is a big camera. Just like a camera at home, you don’t feel anything when the CT machine is taking pictures. This is a picture of our CT machine at Dayton Children’s.

What does a CT picture look like? CT pictures look different from regular x-rays. Regular x-rays show mainly your bones. CT scans show a lot more. They take many pictures of your body; a bit like slices of bread. They make these pictures by sending them from the CT Scanner to a computer. This is a picture taken by a CT scanner.

What do I need to do to get ready for my CT Scan? You will need to lie very still so that the pictures are the best they can be for the doctor. While you are waiting for your turn you can:  Practice sitting or lying still for about 5 to 10 minutes – like you would when you are watching a cartoon on T.V. This will help you when you have to lie still during the CT Scan.  If pictures are going to be taken of your stomach or chest, practice holding your breath for as long as you can.  If you are wearing anything metal, like earrings or a watch, take them off and put them in a safe place until after the pictures.

What will happen after I get to the CT Scan area at Dayton Children’s? When it is your turn, the nurse or technologist will call your name. She will help you to get ready for your CT. She may have you stand on a scale to see how much you weigh.

You may have to have a short check up before your CT Scan. The nurse may listen to your heart and your lungs with a stethoscope. She may also put a small red light that feels sticky on the end of one of your fingers. This is a pulse-oximeter. It tells the nurse how well you are breathing. The nurse may use an otoscope to see inside of your ears, nose and mouth. The nurse will ask your parents some questions.

We have toys for our patients to use while they are waiting for their turn. Ask the nurse if you can find one to play with in your room.

Will I need to have any medicine? Before the CT Scan, some children need to drink a special medicine that looks and tastes like juice. This medicine is called contrast. The contrast will make the CT Scan pictures come out bright and clear. You can ask the nurse or the technologist if you need to drink any contrast.

Sometimes our patients have to have another kind of contrast. This kind must be given into a vein. Your veins look like little blue lines under your skin. You can usually see some on the backs of your hands.

How will the contrast be put into my vein? To put the contrast into the vein, the nurse will need to use a needle. This is called an intravenous or an IV for short. Ask your parents or a nurse if you have to have an IV before your CT Scan.

If you need to have an IV, your mom or dad can stay with you. You might sit on your parent’s lap or lay down on the bed. You can ask the nurse if you can help choose where the IV will go. Sometimes the nurse can put a special numbing gel on your skin. This special gel helps you not to feel the needle so much. You may not feel it at all. The IV will be taken out when the CT scan is over.

Your job will be to hold as still as you can. Some children take deep breaths to help relax their bodies. Some sing songs. Others count to 10. You can choose to do what will help you the most.

Will I be awake or asleep during the CT Scan? Everyone is different. The nurse can help figure out what will work best for you. If you need to sleep during your CT pictures, the nurse will give you some medicine to help make you sleepy.

What happens when I have the CT Scan? When it is time, you will go into the room where the CT machine is. If you brought something special like a blanket or stuffed animal, you can bring it with you into the CT room.

You will lie down on the narrow bed that moves in and out of the tunnel. This bed also moves up and down. Because it is important for you to lie very still, the technologist may place some seat belts across your body or even your forehead. You won’t be alone. Your parents can be in the room while you have your pictures taken.

What does having a CT scan feel like? The CT machine will not touch you. The camera is taking pictures all around you. Having a CT scan doesn’t hurt. But remember, you do have to lie very still. If you wiggle or move just a little bit, the pictures will look fuzzy and you will need to start all over and the CT scan will take longer.

How long will the CT scan last? The CT scan will last about 5-15 minutes. If you were watching TV, this is about the time it would take to watch a few commercials or as much as half of a TV show. Before you know it, the technologist will tell you that you are done.

Remember!

If you have any questions, the people that work at Dayton Children’s will be happy to answer them. If you don’t want to ask yourself, ask your parent to ask for you.