How is a barium swallow performed?
Usually, a barium swallow can be performed on an outpatient basis. Patients may be advised not to eat or drink after midnight on the night before the examination. Although each hospital may have specific protocols in place, generally, a barium swallow procedure follows this process: • The patient is asked to drink the barium liquid and to swallow baking soda crystals. It is important not to belch, as the gas assists the radiologist in evaluation. • The patient remains standing behind a machine called a fluoroscope (a devise used for the immediate showing of an x-ray image). • The patient may be asked to move in different positions and to hold his/her breath while the x-rays are taken. • If the small intestine is to be examined, the patient may be asked to drink additional barium and a series of x-rays are taken until the barium reaches the colon. • Following the examination, barium may cause constipation. The patient may be advised to drink plenty of fluids and eat foods high in fiber
