Barium Studies of the Intestines

To prepare for your test, do not have anything to eat or drink after midnight on the day of the examination. If you need to take medication that cannot wait until after the examination is over (usually about mid-morning), take it with a tiny sip of water. If you are diabetic and cannot fast, please let the radiology department know in advance of your examination.

For a barium enema, you will be asked to take a bowel preparation the day before in order to prepare your colon for adequate imaging. Connect with a GI specialist at GI Alliance for additional information on the proper way to prepare for barium testing.

Although the procedure may vary from patient to patient, the Upper GI and Small Bowel Series involve drinking a barium shake (a contrast medium) during the exam. You may also receive a carbonated beverage to produce gas which helps show contrast on the x-rays. The x-rays are often taken in both the standing and lying down positions to show the flow of the barium through the upper gastrointestinal system.

The barium enema involves barium liquid introduced into the colon followed by air insufflation after which time x-rays are taken in various positions. Please allow one hour for the upper GI series and 2-4 hours for the small bowel series. Please allow 1-2 hours for barium enemas. Schedule an appointment with the experienced GI doctors at GI Alliance for more information.