This is a series of x-rays of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum during and after drinking a
barium solution
. The duodenum is the first part of the small intestine. Together, the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum are called the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract or upper digestive system.
Pulmonary aspiration—inhalation of fluid, food, or other foreign matter into the lungs
Inflammation of the stomach or small intestine
Risk Factors for Complications During the Procedure
Food in the stomach
Barium in the colon
Perforated or obstructed bowel
Due to the risks of radiation exposure, you should not have an upper GI series if you are pregnant.
What to Expect
Prior to Procedure
Do not take
aspirin
or other anti-inflammatory drugs for one week before surgery, unless told otherwise by your doctor. You may also need to stop taking blood-thinning medications. Examples include
clopidogrel
(Plavix),
warfarin
(Coumadin), or
ticlopidine
(Ticlid). Talk to your doctor.
Do not eat, drink, or smoke for at least eight hours before the procedure.
You may be given a medication called
glucagon
. This will slow down the activity of the stomach and small intestine.
You may be asked to swallow baking soda crystals. These crystals will bubble and make gas in your stomach, allowing for more detailed x-rays.
If you are going to have a small bowel follow-through, you might take a laxative medication the day before your exam. This will clean out your small intestine.
Anesthesia
None
Description of the Procedure
You will remove all jewelry and wear a hospital gown. You will drink barium. Barium is a thick, white, chalky, milkshake-like liquid. It coats the inside lining of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. As you drink the barium, the radiologist takes x-rays of the upper GI area, using a machine called a fluoroscope. Your doctor may want to look at your esophagus. So you may have pictures taken as you actually swallow the liquid or small bits of food that are covered with barium. You will change positions frequently to coat the entire surface of the GI tract with barium.
If your doctor wants to look at more of your small intestine, a small bowel follow-through may be done. For this exam, x-ray pictures are taken every 15-30 minutes while the barium travels through the intestine.
After Procedure
You may eat and drink as usual.
How Long Will It Take?
An upper GI series can take between 30 minutes and two hours. A small bowel follow-through can take 1-4 hours.
Drink lots of fluids to remove the barium from your system.
Outcome
A normal upper GI series will show an unobstructed, functioning, healthy digestive tract. Examples of abnormalities that may show up on an upper GI series include:
Obstructions
Ulcers of the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine
Irregularities in the swallowing mechanism
Your doctor will make treatment recommendations based on the findings.
Call Your Doctor If Any of the Following Occurs
After you leave the hospital, call your doctor if any of the following occurs:
Upper GI series.
National Digestive Diseases Clearinghouse, National Institutes of Health website. Available at:
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/uppergi/
. Published November 2004. Accessed July 19, 2008
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care
provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a
substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER
IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the
advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to
starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition.
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Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
