Upper GI and small bowel series

Alternative names:

barium swallow X-ray; GI series; upper GI series

How the test is performed:

This test may be done in an office or a hospital radiology department. You will be sitting up while your heart, lungs, and abdomen are examined with a fluoroscope (a special X-ray that projects images onto a TV screen-like monitor). You will then be given a milk shake drink that has a barium mixture in it. You must drink 16 to 20 oz. for the examination. The passage of the barium through the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine is monitored on the fluoroscope. Pictures are taken with you in a variety of positions. The test takes 30 minutes to 1 hour to complete.

A "GI series" may include an upper gastrointestinal (GI) and small bowel series, and/or a barium enema.

How to prepare for the test:

You may be given a restricted diet for 2 or 3 days before the test. The night before the test and the day of the test, you cannot smoke or eat. Stop taking oral medications, anticholinergics, and narcotics 24-hours before the test. Remove all jewelry.

Infants and children:
The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child's age, interests, previous experience, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics as they correspond to your child's age:

• infant test or procedure preparation (birth to 1 year)
• toddler test or procedure preparation (1 to 3 years)
• preschooler test or procedure preparation (3 to 6 years)
• schoolage test or procedure preparation (6 to 12 years)
• adolescent test or procedure preparation (12 to 18 years)

How the test will feel:

The X-ray causes no discomfort. The barium milk shake has a chalky and unpleasant taste.

Why the test is performed:

The purpose of the test is to detect abnormalities of the esophagus, stomach, and small intestines.