# NPR 4 hrs before CAT SCan

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/npr-4-hrs-before-cat-scan/453909>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 23, 2008, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/npr-4-hrs-before-cat-scan/453909 "2008-06-23T13:40:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/npr-4-hrs-before-cat-scan/453909/1 "2008-06-23T13:40:55Z")

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My GP said coffee (even w 1/2 1nd 1/2) doesn’t count. I.e., I can drink it  
before a CAT SCan.

True?

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**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/npr-4-hrs-before-cat-scan/453909/2 "2008-06-23T13:45:44Z")

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National Public Radio before a CT scan? Sounds fine to me!

As for whether or not tobe NPO, that depends on the area they’re imaging, or the type of study being done. They may want to ensure the stomach is empty, to view it better. But more likely, if it’s a CT with IV contrast, they don’t want you to barf much if you have a contrast reaction.

Liquids usually aren’t a concern for this issue. Solids are the main concern, when there is a concern.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/npr-4-hrs-before-cat-scan/453909/3 "2008-06-23T13:58:29Z")

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[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan]  
National Public Radio before a CT scan? Sounds fine to me!

As for whether or not tobe NPO, that depends on the area they’re imaging, or the type of study being done. They may want to ensure the stomach is empty, to view it better. But more likely, if it’s a CT with IV contrast, they don’t want you to barf much if you have a contrast reaction.

Liquids usually aren’t a concern for this issue. Solids are the main concern, when there is a concern.  
[/QUOTE]

Thank you.

NPO is right, of course. :smack:

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**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/npr-4-hrs-before-cat-scan/453909/4 "2008-06-23T14:30:11Z")

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[NPO](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-profit_organization)? 😕

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**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/npr-4-hrs-before-cat-scan/453909/5 "2008-06-23T14:34:47Z")

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[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan]  
National Public Radio  
[/QUOTE]  
No no no, the abbreviation obviously stands for _non per rectum_.

Ossum -O  
Rectum -R 😉

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/npr-4-hrs-before-cat-scan/453909/6 "2008-06-23T15:03:12Z")

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[QUOTE=Tapioca Dextrin]  
[NPO](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-profit_organization)? 😕  
[/QUOTE]

\*\*Latin **nil per os** nothing by mouth \*\*

(my bolding)

From…

[http://medical.merriam-webster.com/medical/NPO](http://medical.merriam-webster.com/medical/NPO)

…where they have a new **Medical** category. I simply checked it and typed in  
NPO (no periods, no spaces) and it gave the definition.