Preparations – Brain CTA

You should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing to your SMIL brain CT angiography exam. You may be given a gown to wear during the procedure.

You may be asked not to eat or drink anything for a few hours beforehand, especially if a contrast material will be used in your exam.

You should inform your technologist of all medications you are taking and if you have any allergies. If you have a known allergy to contrast material, or "dye," your SMIL radiologist may prescribe medications (usually a steroid) to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction. These medications generally need to be taken 12 hours prior to administration of contrast material.

Women should always inform their SMIL radiologist or the CT technologist if there is any possibility that they may be pregnant. Also inform your doctor of any recent illnesses or other medical conditions.