Upper gastrointestinal (gi) series

An upper gastrointestinal (GI) series looks at the upper and middle sections of the gastrointestinal tract. The test uses barium contrast material, fluoroscopy, and X-ray. Fluoroscopy is a kind of X-ray.

An upper GI series is done to:

• Find the cause of gastrointestinal symptoms, such as trouble swallowing, vomiting, burping up food, belly pain (including a burning or gnawing pain in the center of the stomach), or indigestion.
• Find narrow spots (strictures) in the upper intestinal tract, ulcers, tumors, polyps, or pyloric stenosis.
• Find inflamed areas of the intestine, malabsorption syndrome, or problems with the squeezing motion that moves food through the intestines (motility disorders).
• Find swallowed objects.

Generally, an upper GI series is not used if you do not have symptoms of a gastrointestinal problem. An upper GI series is done most often for people who have:

• A hard time swallowing.
• A possible blocked intestine (obstruction).
• Belly pain that is relieved or gets worse while eating.
• Severe heartburn or heartburn that occurs often.

• You will need to take off your clothes and put on a hospital gown.
• Take out any dentures, and take off any jewelry.
• You will lie on your back on an X-ray table.
• You will have an X-ray taken before you drink the barium mix. Then you'll take small swallows repeatedly during the series of X-rays that follow.
• The doctor watches the barium pass through your GI tract using fluoroscopy and X-ray pictures. The table is tilted at different positions, and you may change positions to help spread the barium.
• You may be given a laxative or enema to flush the barium out of your intestines after the test to prevent constipation.

You may be asked to eat a low-fiber diet for 2 or 3 days before the test. You may also be asked to stop eating for 12 hours before the test. Your doctor will tell you if you need to stop taking certain medicines before the test.

The evening before the test, you may be asked to take a laxative to help clean out your intestines. If your stomach can't empty well on its own, you may have a special tube put through your nose and down into your stomach just before the test begins. A gentle suction on the tube will drain the stomach contents.

If you are having the small bowel follow-through after the upper GI series, you'll need to wait between X-rays. The entire small bowel follow-through exam takes up to 6 hours, so bring along a book to read or some other quiet activity.

Results are usually ready in 1 to 3 days.