To have this test, you need:

• to arrive on the day of the test 10 minutes before your appointment, to take care of the necessary paperwork. Remember to bring:
  
  • the request from your doctor or specialist
  • your tax code
  • previous urofluxometries

A urofluxometry is a test which measures the dynamic parameters of urination.

The test consists in urinating into a container connected to a computer.
To properly perform the test it is necessary to have a sufficient amount of urine, so:

• empty the bladder two hours before the test
• one hour before the test, sip 500 ml of still water, continuing to drink until you feel the need to urinate (which depends on the filling of the bladder)

If the patient suffers from incontinence, it it best to arrive early for the appointment, in order to complete the preparation at the C.D.C. and have the test when ready.

The test cannot be performed in the following cases:

• the patient has a catheter
• the patient is severely incontinent and has to wear an absorbent pad.

To have this test, you need to know that it is necessary:

• if you are allergic to drugs or anaesthetics, to always inform C.D.C.
• to suspend any anti-clotting therapy (baby or low-dose aspirin) seven days before the test
• to suspend any antibiotics, anti-secretion or anti-inflammatory drugs for at least 15 days
• if you are taking anti-coagulant treatment (Courmadin, Warfarin), to contact your doctor
• for pacemaker wearers to take antibiotics for endocarditis at home
• for pacemaker wearers to inform C.D.C. of their condition in advance

Test in the morning:

• eat a light dinner the evening before
• do not eat anything for at least eight hours before your appointment (you may drink still water until two hours before the test)
• do not assume any liquids (including water, sweets and chewing gum) during the two hours leading up to the test

Test in the afternoon:

• eat a light dinner the evening before
• Eat a light breakfast on the day of the test, consisting of tea with sugar and French toast. Eat nothing more, for at least eight hours before the test (you may drink still water until two hours before the test) and do not assume any liquids (including water, sweets and chewing gum) during the two hours leading up to the test.

To have this test, you need to know that it is necessary:

• to eat a low fibre diet for 4-5 days leading up to the test.

Foods that are allowed: meat, fish, eggs, cheese, ice cream, yoghurt without pieces of fruit, rice.

Foods that are not allowed: fruit and vegetables (neither cooked nor raw), pulses, pasta, biscuits and all foods that contain wholegrain flour

Drinks that are allowed: water, tea, coffee, milk, chamomile tea and herbal teas of all kinds, with sugar to taste, fruit juices, non-fizzy soft drinks

• if you are allergic to drugs or anaesthetics, to always inform C.D.C.
• suspend any anti-clotting therapy (baby or low-dose aspirin) the day before the test
• to suspend any antibiotics, anti-secretion or anti-inflammatory drugs for at least 15 days
• if you are taking anti-coagulant treatment (Courmadin, Warfarin), to contact your doctor
• for pacemaker wearers to take antibiotics for endocarditis at home
• pacemaker wearers must inform C.D.C. of their condition in advance

Preparation with LOVOL-Esse (2 litres of solution):

• eat a low fibre diet for 4-5 days leading up to the test, eliminating fruit, vegetables, salads and wholegrain foods
• for those who suffer from constipation, take 1 or 2 or Verecolene C.M. tablets in the evening for 4-5 days leading up to the test
• have a liquid diet (meat stock, tea, chamomile tea with honey) on the day before the test, and take the laxative up to three hours before the test
• purchase a box of Lovol-Esse (containing four sachets) and a box of Plasil tablets or syrup from the chemist. Dissolve the content of each sachet of Lovol-Esse in 1/2 a litre of water, for a total of two litres (use all four sachets in the box).

Test in the morning

• take the four Verecolene C.M. tablets at 4:00 p.m. the day before the test, and the two litres of Lovol-Esse between 8:00 and 10:00 p.m..

Test in the afternoon

• take the four Verecolene C.M. tablets before going to bed the night before the test
• take the two litres of Lovol-Esse solution between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m. on the day of the test.
• if you feel nauseous, take one Plasil tablet or one spoonful of Plasil syrup.

Caution:

If this oral preparation is not effective (emission of thick creamy liquid or faeces on the day of the test), perform one or two enemas using Sorbiclis or 1.5 litres of warm water at least two hours before the test.

DO NOT EAT ANYTHING for at least three hours before your appointment on the day of the test (you may drink water until two hours before the test), and do not come alone.

To have this test, it is necessary to follow these instructions:

    
• if you are allergic to drugs or anaesthetics, to always inform C.D.C.
• to suspend any anti-clotting therapy (baby or low-dose aspirin) seven days before the test
• to suspend any antibiotics, anti-secretion or anti-inflammatory drugs for at least 15 days
• if you are taking anti-coagulant treatment (Courmadin, Warfarin), to contact your doctor
• for pacemaker wearers to take antibiotics for endocarditis at home
• pacemaker wearers must inform C.D.C. of their condition in advance
• purchase two Enemac enemas from the chemist's.

Test in the morning:

• eat a light dinner the day before and have an Enemac enema one hour before going to bed
• on the day of the test, eat a light breakfast consisting of tea or herbal tea with sugar, and have an Enemac enema one hour before the test

Test in the afternoon:

• eat a light dinner the evening before
• on the day of the test, eat a light breakfast consisting of tea with sugar and French toast, and have an Enemac enema
• eat a liquid lunch (bone or vegetable broth, semolina, soft cheese) and have an Enemac enema one hour before the test.

To have this exam, it is necessary to follow these instructions:

• come to the clinic wearing a short-sleeved undergarment (onto which the bands for measuring chest-abdominal respiratory movements with be applied);
• remove any false nails (TIPS) as they contain metallic material which interferes with the recording procedure. Standard and semi-permanent nail varnishes do not create interference.
• Do not work or perform physical activity after the recording appliance has been fitted, until its removal the following day, to prevent movement of the sensors and the bands, which would jeopardise the success of the test;
• try to get an adequate number of hours of sleep (at least 6-8), going to bed early;
• return the appliance by 8.00 a.m. the following morning.

To have this test, you need to know that:

• 24-hour pressure monitoring (Pressure Holter or ABPM) is a non-invasive test that allows the constant recording of blood pressure for 24 ore, using a small appliance fastened to the waist with a belt.
• To properly install the appliance, wear loose-fitting clothes which allow the correct operation of the appliance and the bracelet to be worn.
• On the day of the test, the appliance and bracelet are fitted to the patients, the required settings are programmed and then the appliance is switched on.
• The patient has to wear the appliance for 24 hours, writing down any information that might be helpful (activity performed, mental effort, symptoms or problems) in the Patient Diary, indicating the time and the list of drugs taken.
• During the test, the blood pressure is measured automatically every 20 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes during the night.
• If the test is carried out for diagnostic or assessment purposes in relation to treatment already in progress, the settings can be personalised.
• If the patient has a particular problem (dizziness, fainting, etc.), the pressure can be measured manually.

After 24 hours, the patient must return to the C.D.C., where the appliance is removed and the cardiologist examines the data memorised on the computer, before preparing his report.

IMPORTANT:

On the day of the test, the patient must bring:

• the list of drugs he/she is taking
• notes on recent blood pressure monitoring.

To have this test, you need to know that:

• On the day of the appointment, electrodes will be applied to the patient's chest. These electrodes are connected to a portable appliance which records the heart rate for 24 hours.
• The patient has to wear the appliance for 24 hours, writing down any information that might be helpful (activity performed, mental effort, symptoms or problems) in the Patient Diary, indicating the time and the list of drugs taken, and must take the necessary precautions to prevent malfunction or detachment of the electrodes from the recorder.
• The following day, the electrodes will be removed at the same time they were applied the day before.
• The recording will be examined on the computer by the Cardiologist who then draws up the report.

Any technical problems or failure to observe the above instructions may make it impossible to read the recording. In this case, the patient will have to return and repeat the test.

Male patients must remove all chest hair before their appointment.