From: FDG-PET/CT in intensive care patients with bloodstream infection
Preparation | Action |
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Diet and glucose administration | Patients should fast for 4–6 h before FDG-PET/CT is performed. This includes cessation of parenteral and enteral nutrition All parenteral administration of glucose should be stopped as well. This includes (medication dissolved in) intravenous glucose When a cardiac infection focus is suspected, patients should be kept on a low carbohydrate diet for 24 h before FDG-PET/CT and should fast 6 h before FDG-PET/CT. Otherwise, physiologic myocardial FDG uptake may obscure cardiac infections such as endocarditis |
Hydration | Patients should drink 1 L of water (or receive non-glucose containing fluid intravenously) in the 2Â h before FDG-PET/CT to increase renal excretion of FDG, which subsequently increases the lesion-to-background ratio and decreases FDG concentration in the urine |
Glucose regulating drugs | Patients with diabetes should not receive rapid-acting insulin within 4Â h of FDG-PET/CT, short-acting insulin within 6Â h of FDG-PET/CT, and no intermediate or long-acting insulin on the day FDG-PET/CT is performed Use of metformin may increase FDG uptake of the gastrointestinal tract but does not necessarily have to be stopped before FDG-PET/CT |
Exercise | Patients should avoid (strenuous) exercise 24Â h prior to FDG-PET/CT as exercise increases FDG uptake of skeletal muscle |
Temperature | Patients should not be subjected to cold 1Â h before FDG-PET/CT to minimize FDG accumulation in brown fat |