This x-ray is used to find out what is wrong inside your tummy.

Before she came to the hospital, Sarah wasn’t allowed to eat or drink for several hours – not even a glass of water. If there was food or fluid in the tummy the barium would stick to it and spoil the x-ray pictures.

Sarah takes off her clothes and puts on a gown.

Mum puts on a heavy lead apron so that she can stay with Sarah while she has her x-ray.

Sarah lies down on the x-ray table and drinks a white liquid called barium, she chose chocolate flavour - it looks like a milk shake.

The x-ray doctor takes pictures of her neck, chest and tummy so that s/he can see her food pipe, which leads into her stomach.

The x-ray machine comes quite close to Sarah for the pictures but doesn't touch her.

Mum and Sarah also enjoy looking at her tummy on the x-ray television.

Parent Points

The examination takes about 15 minutes. If your child is a baby, this will be done lying down on the x-ray table. Older children may stand up for part of the examination.

After the x-ray it is a good idea to give your child plenty to drink for at least 24 hours. This helps to relieve any constipation.  Your child will also pass small amounts of white barium mixed in with their stool. This is quite normal and will soon disappear.

For further information between 09:00-5:00hrs, Mon-Fri please contact:

Liz Hunter, Maryline Forraz, Judith Hobson or any radiographer on -

0191 2824429.

Results

The results of this examination will be sent to your child's hospital consultant in the next 7/10 days, and s/he will contact you, either by appointment or letter.