Hydroxyiminodiacetic acid scan, or HIDA scan, is also known as gall scintigraphy. This test uses a small amount of dye or radioactive tracer to measure your hepatobiliary function. Once the tracer has been injected, the clinician will take regular pictures of your abdomen within an hour or two. The clinician will evaluate the development of each picture and tell you if more pictures are necessary. In some cases, follow-up photos are taken within 12 to 24 hours of the initial scan.
when using HIDA scan
HIDA scan to track bile. So your doctor can assess your gallbladder by tracking the flow of bile from the liver to the small intestine. Tracking the flow of bile helps to identify bile duct obstruction, gallstones, bile duct leakage and other gallbladder related abnormalities. Your doctor may also want to assess the rate at which bile flows out of the gallbladder.
four hour window
unless otherwise instructed by your doctor, you should not eat or drink anything for at least 4 hours and 12 hours before the HIDA scan. Because your gallbladder is likely to fill up after you eat, eating before a scan increases the likelihood that clinicians will not be able to clearly understand your gallbladder. The day before the scan, because gallbladder function is closely related to fat metabolism, you should not fast the day before the scan. Continue to eat normally until 4 to 12 hours before the scan, or as directed by your doctor. Some drugs, including pepto Bismol, may interfere with HIDA scanning. When you schedule a scan, tell your doctor all your medications. You may be instructed to delay the dose until the scan is complete. If you are likely to be pregnant, please inform your doctor. HIDA scans increase the risk of unborn children and may be delayed until your pregnancy is complete.