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Barium Swallow Test
What Is a Barium Swallow?
A barium swallow is a test that may be used to determine the cause of painful swallowing, difficulty with swallowing, abdominal pain, bloodstained vomit, or unexplained weight loss.
Barium sulfate is a metallic compound that shows up on X-rays and is used to help see abnormalities in the esophagus and stomach. When taking the test, you drink a preparation containing this solution. The X-rays track its path through your digestive system.
These problems can be detected with a barium swallow:
Narrowing or irritation of the esophagus (for example, Schatski's ring)
Disorders of swallowing (dysphagia - difficulty swallowing), spasms of the esophagus or pharynx
Hiatal hernia (an internal defect that causes the stomach to slide partially into the chest)
Abnormally enlarged veins in the esophagus (varices) that cause bleeding
Ulcers
Tumors
Polyps (growths that are usually not cancerous, but develop into cancer)
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
What to expect during a barium swallow?
A barium swallow is a type of test used to look inside the esophagus, or food pipe. A doctor might recommend this test if they need to look at the outline of any part of a person's digestive system.
Barium is a white liquid that is visible on X-rays. Barium passes through the digestive system and does not cause a person any harm.
As it passes through the body, barium coats the inside of the food pipe, stomach, or bowel, causing the outlines of the organs to appear on X-ray.
Why are barium swallow tests used?
A barium swallow test may be used if someone has any of the following conditions:
frequent, painful heartburn
gastric reflux, where food or acid keeps coming back up the food pipe
difficulty eating, drinking, or swallowing
This test can give a doctor information about how the person is swallowing.
It can also reveal if someone has any of the following in their food pipe, stomach, or the first part of the bowel:
ulcers
abnormal growths
blockages
narrowing
If someone has a tumor, this will show up on the X-ray as an irregular outline that extends from the wall of the affected organ.
Procedure
People who are undergoing a barium swallow should not eat or drink for a few hours before the test. In some cases, the doctor may ask the person to stop taking medication before the test.
Some hospitals recommend not chewing gum, eating mints, or smoking cigarettes after midnight the night before a barium swallow test.
The test takes around 60 minutes and will take place in the X-ray department of the hospital. A person will need to change into a hospital gown.
People can bring a friend or relative for support. However, the companion will not be able to join them in the X-ray room.
In the X-ray room, the person drinks the barium liquid. It often has a chalky taste but can sometimes be flavored.
In some cases, a person will be given an injection to relax their stomach.
A person will be standing for some parts of the examination, and lying down on a tilting table for other parts. This allows the liquid to travel through the body, and for the radiologist and radiographer to take a selection of images.
People do not have to stay in hospital after the test and are free to go home as soon as it is complete. The results usually arrive within 1-2 weeks.
Risks and side effects
Patients may feel nauseous after a barium swallow test or become constipated. Drinking lots of fluids can help to relieve constipation. Symptoms of nausea should improve as the barium passes through the system.
It is normal for people to have white-colored stools the first few times they use the toilet after having a barium swallow test.
Some people might worry about being exposed to radiation as part of the X-ray process. However, the amount of radiation a person is exposed to is minimal.
Sometimes, the injection given to relax the stomach can cause temporary blurred vision.
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