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Upper GI Series/Upper GI and Small Bowel Series

An upper gastrointestinal (GI) series is an examination of your upper gastrointestinal tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach and small bowel (intestine).  This exam is usually performed when patients experience frequent heartburn, stomach pain, or the doctor suspects an ulcer or gastric reflux.

Preparation:  Your stomach must be completely empty for this exam.  You will be asked not to eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your exam.  If you are a diabetic, please let the scheduling department or your doctor know so you can be scheduled as early in the day as possible.

Procedure:  The technologist will ask you to dress in a hospital gown.  You will be taken to an exam room for a scout film.  Once this film is taken, the X-ray table will be tilted to the upright position.  You may be able to see parts of your exam on the TV screen in the room.  Once the radiologist is in the room, you will be asked to drink a barium mixture that allows us to visualize your gastrointestinal tract.  You will also be asked to swallow some fizzy granules that are dissolved in water.  You will feel the need to belch, however, you will be asked to avoid belching so that the air and barium can mix in your stomach, which gives us greater detail of your stomach on our films.

At this point, if you are having only an upper GI, once the technologist takes a series of films, you will be done.  If you are also having a small bowel series, the films will be delayed until the barium reaches the colon.  This can take approximately an hour or longer.  You should drink extra fluids for the next one to two days to help the barium pass through your colon.  You may eat immediately after this procedure.

Your films will be read by a radiologist who will send a report to your physician.