What is an Upper GI/Small Bowel Series?
An Upper GI series is a fluoroscopic X-ray study that visualizes the esophagus, stomach and small intestine. When accompanied with a small bowel series, the entire small intestine is visualized. The patient undergoing an upper GI and/or small bowel series will drink one or more types of barium solutions that outline the anatomy of the esophagus, stomach and small intestine. Sometime patients will also swallow a barium pill and/or a highly carbonated drink to introduce air into the stomach.
