What To Expect After a Lung Ventilation/Perfusion Scan

Most people can return to their normal routines right after a lung ventilation/perfusion (VQ) scan.

If you got medicine to help you relax during the scan, your doctor will tell you when you can return to your normal routine. The medicine may make you tired, so you’ll need someone to drive you home.

You may have a bruise on your arm where the radioisotopes were injected. You will need to drink plenty of fluids to flush the radioisotopes out of your body. Your doctor can advise you about how much fluid to drink.

If you’re breast-feeding, ask your doctor how long you should wait after the test before you breast-feed. The radioisotopes used for VQ scans can be passed to your baby through your breast milk.

You may want to prepare for the scan by pumping and saving milk for 24 to 48 in advance. You can bottle-feed your baby in the hours after the VQ scan.