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Voiding Cysto-Urethrogram

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Please bring your Health Card to your appointment.


A Voiding Cysto-Urethrogram or VCUG is an x-ray procedure used to see the lower urinary tract during voiding (peeing), but more simply to look at the bladder.

 

Voiding Cysto-Urethrogram Procedure


A small tube is put into your child’s urine passage way. Your child must lie on their back with their knees bent (froggy position). After the tube is inserted, a sample of urine is taken to the Lab to test for infection. The tube is plugged and taped to the leg.

 

The X-Ray Room


After reporting to Admitting you will be directed to the Paediatric Out-patient Clinic. It is here your child will be prepared for the test. Your child will then be taken to the Diagnostic Imaging Department where he/she will have to wait in a waiting area for the x-ray. Your child will then go into an x-ray room and they will see a large camera (x-ray machine) above the x-ray table. A parent or nurse may be in the room to hold your child during the x-rays, wearing a protective heavy lead apron and gloves. The Radiologist will be standing behind the window.

 

Please Note: If mother is pregnant, she may not accompany her child into the X-Ray Room. Another family member or nurse will be asked to stay with the child.

 

The X-Ray Procedure


Your child is in a lying position. Blue pads are placed under your child’s bum so that they could void (pee) when they are lying on the table. The catheter will be connected to a tube with the contrast solution. This solution will flow through the tubing and catheter into the bladder. The catheter is removed when the bladder is full. During the procedure, you will hear clicking of the pictures (x-rays) and the humming of the equipment and air conditioning. You will be able to see the contrast medium solution entering your child’s bladder on the monitor in the room. Infants usually begin voiding as soon as the bladder fills enough to produce discomfort. In older children, filling is usually stopped when the child begins to complain about fullness. Your child will feel that they have to void (pee) badly. Films are taken during and after voiding.

 

Remember: It is important that your child remain still during the catheterization and the x-ray. Perhaps you can discuss with your child ways to help them remain still (ie. bring a favorite book along).

 

Parents


No matter how much we try to prepare our children, there are times when their fears remain so strong that it is quite difficult for them to remain calm during the procedure (catheterization). In these cases there are a number of things that may be tried to lower the fears a child fears. For examples, having a child focus on an object, action or thought (distraction) may help direct the child away from their fears; (2) having a child listen to relaxing music while relaxing their breathing may help calm the child. The focus of any attempt is to reduce your child’s fears. In the case that your child cannot be calmed, a bunny bundling is suggested in order to reduce the risk of injury and help your child remain still in the correct position, decreasing the necessity to repeat the procedure. A sedation may be given orally or by injection to a younger child to help them remain calm. If your child has received a sedation you must stay in the Paediatric Outpatient Unit until he/she is awake. Post sedation instructions will be explained before discharge.

 

Following the test your child will be taken to the Paediatric Out-patient Clinic where they will recover from the sedative effects.


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