Barium Swallow

A barium swallow is a fluoroscopy (x-ray movie) examination of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It looks at the pharynx (back of mouth and throat) and the oesophagus. This examination requires a liquid (barium) to be swallowed to highlight and make visible the movement through the pharynx and oesophagus to create a picture.

The most common reasons your doctor may request this examination, these include:

• Examine cancers of the head, neck, pharynx, and oesophagus,
• Examine tumours,
• Examine an hiatal hernia,
• Identification of structural problems (diverticula, strictures, or polyps),
• Identify oesophageal varices,
• Diagnose muscle disorders (dysphagia - difficulty swallowing or spasms),
• Examine Achalasia (the oesophageal sphincter muscle doesn't relax to allow food to pass, into the stomach)
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease and ulcers

Inform your doctor of all medications (prescribed and over the counter) that you're taking. You may need to withhold certain medications prior to the procedure.

It is important to inform a member of staff as soon as possible if you are pregnant or suspect you are pregnant BEFORE the test is performed. The examination may not be appropriate or special considerations or precautions might need to be taken.

You will be required to arrive to you appointment 10 minutes early to fill in the necessary paperwork such as a questionnaire and consent form. Children under the age of 16 will require consent from a guardian.

You will be positioned on an X-ray examination table that can move tilt you from a horizontal to an upright position. You may also be asked to change positions (for example, lying on your side, back, or stomach) at intervals during the procedure.

When instructed you will need to take mouthfuls of the barium drink and hold it in your mouth. As you swallow the barium, the radiologist will take a series of X-rays (fluoroscopy) to observe the barium's passage through the pharynx and oesophagus.

You may also be instructed to hold your breath at certain times during the procedure.

For safety reasons there cannot be anyone in the room during the procedure and relatives must wait outside. A radiographer will be behind the glass window a short distance away watching the patient at all times during the scan should there be any concerns.