What is the test used for?

A barium swallow looks at the oesophagus. A barium meal looks at the stomach. These tests are often performed together. You will swallow about a cup of barium liquid. A thin coating of a barium compound lines the inside of the oesophagus and/or stomach, and x-rays are taken. Barium looks white on x-ray, and outlines any irregularity of the wall.

What is the preparation for the test?

The stomach has to be as clean as possible before the test. Small pieces of food left inside the stomach may look like abnormalities. Fast for six hours before the test.

Will I have to undress?

You will be asked to remove many of your upper clothes, but may leave on your underpants. You will be asked to change into a cotton gown, opened at the back, to protect your clothes from the barium.

Where will I be for the test?

You will be asked to stand against a fluoroscopy table. This is an unfortunately hard table which can move in many directions as well as tilt.

How is the test done?

A barium powder is mixed with water to make about 150 mls (1 cup) of thick liquid which is placed in a glass. The doctor will instruct you on when to drink the barium, and how fast to drink. It can be reliably predicted that the taste of the barium will never become popular, and no-one has ever asked for take-away! But it's not the worst taste in the world.

The doctor will watch the barium on the screen, and occasionally will take a (hard copy) x-ray picture. Most times, the doctor will also give you two small medicine glasses, one with a clear liquid, and one with an orange liquid. These liquids when together make gas, and help to distend the stomach so that small irregularities can be better seen. You will be asked to drink these liquids one after the other (the faster you drink, the less bad they taste!). The drinks mix together in your tummy. The gas produced will make you want to “burp”. Please don’t – we will only make you drink more. It helps to keep swallowing to suppress the burp.

Once the barium has been drunk, the table you have been standing against will be laid flat, with you on it. You will be asked to roll in various directions on the table, and asked to hold your breath so that x-rays may be taken.

Sometimes, especially for looking at the stomach, the doctor may need to give you an injection of a drug called Buscopan. The problem is that everyone's stomach is constantly moving, which makes x-raying them very difficult. Buscopan temporarily stops the stomach from moving. It can also make an eye disorder called glaucoma worse, so tell the doctor if you have glaucoma, and another drug may be used. The side effects of Buscopan are blurred vision and a dry mouth, both of which can last for about half an hour. You will be unable to drive a vehicle for half an hour after a Buscopan injection.

How long will it all take?

About 15 minutes.

And after the test?

The barium looks like cement, but fortunately does not set like cement! Drink plenty of clear fluids over the next day. And, most importantly, you can now eat!

Does the test use radiation?

Ionising radiation is used.