

Modified barium swallow vs Barium swallow Some of the time is taken preparing for the study. How long will the barium swallow test take?īarium swallow test will take about 30 minutes. What does barium taste like?īarium comes in several different consistencies and is artificially sweetened and flavored.

Additionally, small perforations or fistula may sometimes be detected on endoscopy even with a negative barium swallow study. It is important to note that, regardless of the appearance of a lesion discovered on barium swallow study, all masses, strictures, and complaints of dysphagia require consideration of endoscopy for a complete workup. Perforation – effort (Boerhaave’s Syndrome).Iatrogenic injury – endoscopy, laryngoscopy.Ineffective esophageal motility/hypotensive peristalsis.Hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter.Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (potentially).Esophageal diverticula (Zenker’s, mid-esophageal, and epiphrenic).The following list of esophageal pathologies (categorized roughly by type) that may benefit from barium swallow study in workup is not fully inclusive, but it serves to highlight the diversity of clinical situations where it may play some role 1). However, nowadays upper gastrointestinal endoscopy has largely replaced the barium swallow for the assessment of peptic ulcer disease and the evaluation of hematemesis. This enables the doctor to detect a subtle narrowing in the esophagus called a stricture. Sometimes you are also asked to swallow a barium tablet if you have trouble swallowing. Barium swallow test is performed when a patient drinks the barium and X-ray images or a video is made that shows the food/liquid in the mouth, moving over the tongue, through the pharynx or throat and into the esophagus. Barium swallow study is often “modified” to suit the history and symptoms of the individual patient, but it is often useful to evaluate the entire pathway from the lips to the gastric fundus.īarium swallow or barium esophagram, may be ordered for patients with difficult or painful swallowing, coughing, choking, a sensation of something stuck in the throat, or chest pain. Barium swallow test shows where foods and liquids go when a person swallows. The barium liquid coats the esophagus or stomach and a series of x-rays are taken to track its path through the digestive system. Barium swallow may be performed as a single or double contrast study. What should I do after the barium swallow test?īarium swallow also called barium esophagram, is a test that uses x-ray and barium, a thick white chalky substance as contrast agent to diagnose problems of the pharynx, esophagus, and proximal stomach.What happens during a barium swallow study?.How is the procedure modified barium swallow study performed?.Modified barium swallow vs Barium swallow.How long will the barium swallow test take?.
