Barium swallow
A barium swallow test is a way for doctors to see how your upper gastrointestinal tract (from your mouth to first part of your small intestine) is working. Also known as an oesophagogram, the procedure may be used to investigate cases of difficulty when swallowing, choking or coughing when eating, food getting stuck, or lump in the throat sensation.
It involves you swallowing a solution of barium sulphate, a white metallic compound that shows up in a special type of X-ray called fluoroscopy. A radiologist or technician will take a series of X-rays as you swallow the solution, recording the images for analysing afterwards. You may need to change position a few times (including from standing to lying down).
In total, the test lasts about 15 minutes. The barium solution has a thick, chalky consistency and is non-toxic, though it can sometimes lead to constipation when it goes through your digestive system during the following 24 hours.
This test may help to find abnormalities such as, hiatus hernia (where part of the stomach pushes into the diaphragm), narrowing, blockages, growths, or pouches in the gullet or food pipe (oesophagus).
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