Oral Cholecystogram

What is an oral cholecystogram?

An oral cholecystogram is an X-ray procedure used to look for gallstones in the gallbladder or bile ducts. The gallbladder is a small sac that lies under the liver on your right side. It is part of the digestive system. It stores bile made by the liver to help you digest fats. Bile ducts are small tubes that drain bile from the liver into the gallbladder and small intestine.

When is it used?

This test may be done to help your provider diagnose a problem with the liver or gallbladder. For example, it may be done to look for gallstones. Gallstones sometimes form from bile and other substances in the gallbladder. If they block the outlet of the gallbladder or a bile duct, they can cause a lot of pain.

Examples of tests you might have instead of oral cholecystogram include:

• ultrasound scan
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• nuclear gallbladder scan (called a HIDA or DISIDA scan)

Discuss possible tests with your healthcare provider.

How do I prepare for an oral cholecystogram?

Tell your healthcare provider if you are allergic to contrast dye or seafood. Also, tell your provider if you are or may be pregnant.

Follow your healthcare provider's instructions. The night before the procedure, eat a light, low-fat meal such as soup and salad. Several hours after the night meal, take the pills your provider provided. Take one pill every 5 minutes until they are gone. The dye in these pills will outline the gallbladder on the X-rays.

Do not eat or drink anything the morning of the procedure.

What happens during the procedure?

A technologist will take several X-rays of your abdomen. The gallbladder and any stones may show up on the X-ray. You may be given something to eat or drink to make the gallbladder contract and release dye into the bile ducts and intestine. The technologist may then take more X-rays of your abdomen.

What happens after the procedure?

The radiologist will send the complete report to your healthcare provider. You should call your provider's office in a few days to hear the results. Ask your provider how you should take care of yourself and when you should come back for a checkup.

What are the benefits of this procedure?

Your healthcare provider may know if there are stones in the gallbladder and can decide what treatment to suggest.

What are the risks associated with this procedure?

• You may have an allergic reaction to the dye. In an allergic reaction, your body's immune system misreads a harmless substance as harmful. As a result you can have symptoms that vary widely in severity. For example, you could get hives, nausea, fainting or swelling.
• The test may not work.
• The dye may not pass into the gallbladder.
• The pills may give you diarrhea.

You should ask your healthcare provider how these risks apply to you.

When should I call my healthcare provider?

Call your provider right away if:

• You have an allergic reaction to the dye.
• You develop a fever.
• You vomit up the pills after you take them.

Call during office hours if:

• You have questions about the procedure or its result.
• You want to make another appointment.