Downloadable brochure - Screening Examinations
What is a Barium Meal?
A Barium Meal is a screening study used to demonstrate the anatomy of the oesophagus (gullet), stomach and duodenum and to display their function (for example swallowing, emptying of the stomach and the passage of food through the intestine).
Preparation
You will need to prepare for the examination by fasting from food and fluids for at least eight hours before your appointment. This ensures that the stomach is empty, as any food or fluid may give misleading results. In addition, you will be requested to refrain from smoking for eight hours before your appointment as smoking causes the stomach lining to secrete fluid, which reduces the quality and accuracy of the examination.
Procedure
Prior to the examination you will be asked to change into a gown to prevent your clothes from causing confusing shadows on the images.
You will be given a cup of heavy, chalky-tasting fluid (barium sulphate) as well as some small amounts of other fluids and/or powder to swallow. These will outline your stomach and other areas to assess the swallowing mechanism. These fluids fill the stomach, with a combination of barium and gas, to expand the walls of the stomach and show the stomach lining.
An intravenous injection may be given to relax the stomach and improve the ease of interpretation of the examination.
You may feel bloated however this will improve quickly. You will need to be turned into various positions on the x-ray table to allow images to be taken of all parts of the stomach and small bowel.
NOTE: Some patients may experience constipation for a few days afterwards as the barium passes through the bowel. Drinking fluid helps and a mild laxative may be useful if symptoms persist.
Examination and Reporting Time
The examination will take approximately 30 minutes. In the instance where your doctor requires an examination of the small intestine, the procedure may take a further 1 to 4 hours.
You may wish to wait for your results or alternative arrangements can be made to collect them at a later stage.