What is an Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Radiographic Examination?
What information can a physician obtain from a GI procedure?
How do I prepare for this exam?
What will the equipment used for my exam look like?
How is the GI study performed?
What effect will the exam have on me during and following the procedure?
When will the results of my exam be available to me?
What are the risks and benefits of an UGI study?
What are the diagnostic uses of the upper GI tract examination?
What is an Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Radiographic Examination?
This procedure is an x-ray examination of the throat, esophagus, stomach and the first segment of the small bowel. Real-time radiography (fluoroscopy) is used by the radiologist to visualize the transport of an orally-administered contrast material (barium sulfate).
The patient drinks barium to coat the lining of the anatomy being radiographed so that it will be more visible and distinguishable from adjacent anatomy. Sometimes an abbreviated form of the exam is performed that involves only visualizing the throat and esophagus, this modified exam is called a Barium Swallow.
Another modification to the GI study is the ingestion of baking soda crystals to add air to the patient’s internal organs. Like barium, air looks different than body tissue in x-rays, so the physician may obtain additional information using baking soda crystals.
What information can a physician obtain from a GI procedure?
The GI tract fluoroscopic examination can help the physician diagnose several adverse medical conditions including:
Blockages
Tumors
Scarring
Inflamed tissues
Abnormalities in the lining of GI tract organs
Hiatel hernias
Ulcers
Symptoms that might be helpful with making a diagnosis are:
Blood in the stool
Difficulty swallowing
Vomiting for no reason
Abdominal or chest pain
Gastric reflux
Frequent/severe indigestion
Severe tenderness in the throat, chest or abdomen
How do I prepare for this exam?
To prepare for the exam:
-Inform your physician of any medications you are taking.
-Inform your physician of any substance, medicine or food allergies.
-Mention if you have an allergy to iodine or have experienced an allergic reaction to a previous x-ray/cat scan contrast (a reaction can be as minor as a rash).
-If you are pregnant or think you could be pregnant, please notify your physician, the Imaging Department receptionist and the technologist performing your exam prior to the start of the exam.
-You will be asked to remove jewelry, some articles of clothing and possibly removable prosthetic devices.
-Avoid wearing clothing with buttons, snaps/hooks or metal zippers, if possible.
What to eat or drink:
Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the day prior to your exam.
What will the equipment used for my exam look like?
The equipment is comprised of a motorized table, a fluoroscope, x-ray tube and video monitor. The table will be hard and flat, so anticipate some discomfort, especially if you have difficulty lying on hard surfaces. The table has the capability of positioning you in either an upright (standing) position or a horizontal position.
How is the GI study performed?
This procedure is most often performed on an outpatient basis. It will be necessary for you to be NPO for the exam (do not eat or drink after dinner the night before the exam). NPO will allow your GI tract to be empty, making all parts of the tract visible during the exam.
You will start the exam standing on the end of the x-ray table. The technologist will give you a cup of barium and the radiologist will instruct you as to when and how much barium to drink. Your esophagus and swallowing anatomy will be examined during this portion of the exam. Next, the radiologist will recline the table so that you will be in a recumbent position. You may be asked to drink additional barium through a straw while the radiologist observes the barium moving through the stomach and into the first segment of the small bowel. Following fluoroscopic examination by the radiologist, the technologist will take additional static x-ray images.
What effect will the exam have on me during and following the procedure?
Liquid barium is a chalky substance that it will coat the lining of the esophagus, stomach and small bowel. While the barium is filling these organs, you will feel full and possible somewhat nauseated, especially is eating has been causing these type of symptoms. You will be asked to turn your body on the table during the exam and the radiologist and technologist will tilt the table to enhance coating of the GI tract during the exam.
The barium is not changed by your body as it passes through, so expect whitish stools for one to two days following the exam. If you become constipated easily, use an over-the-counter laxative and drink plenty of water for the first few days after the exam.
When will the results of my exam be available to me?
Your Upper GI exam will be interpreted by a board certified radiologist (a medical physician with specialty training reading x-rays). The results of the exam will be available to your physician within 24-hours of the exam. Your family physician will notify you on the exam findings.
What are the risks and benefits of an UGI study?
-You will not receive enough radiation from the study to be harmful.
-You will not become radioactive from this exam.
-Barium is not absorbed by your body, so there is very little chance that you will have an allergic reaction.
-The test will help your physician diagnose your condition.
-UGI studies have been performed for over 50 years and are still considered a valuable diagnostic tool. If you are allergic to flavoring such as chocolate, citrus fruit or berries be sure to notify the technologist prior to the start of the GI exam.
-A woman should always notify the technologist if she may be pregnant.
What are the diagnostic uses of the oppr GI tract examination?
This test can detect ulcers, but they must be 7 millimeters in size before they can routinely be seen by x-rays. Other irritations of the stomach lining and some infectious processes are also seen. Minor irritations of the stomach or esophagus are difficult to detect.
