We have received a request from your referring doctor for you to have a Barium Swallow and Meal.  This web page is designed to give you some information about the procedure, to help you prepare for your examination and to give you some idea of what to expect when you attend.

It is an X-ray examination of the gullet (oesophagus) and stomach.

If your appointment time is not convenient it is essential you contact the hospital department that you are attending (see appointments’ telephone numbers below) immediately, so that a more appropriate time can be arranged.  This will enable us to reallocate valuable time to someone else.

It is important that your stomach is empty before the examination and therefore you will not be able to have any food or drink after midnight on the day before your examination. Printed instructions will be given to you with your appointment information. Please read these carefully.

Yes.  The preparation procedure may change. Please ring the appropriate help-line telephone number (as below) at the hospital you are attending and speak to a member of the medical staff who will advise you. (see next question also).

Royal Victoria Infirmary - (0191 2824411

Freeman Hospital -  (0191) 2231012       

Newcastle General Hospital - (0191) 2822712

For further information, please click on the link below to read/print the document about the protocols for diabetic patients.

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Yes - Metformin (Glucophage, Avandamet) is most commonly taken by diabetic patients to control blood sugar, but occasionally is taken for other conditions.

If you are taking Metformin (Glucophage, Avandamet), your preparation for the procedure may change.  Please ring the appropriate help-line telephone number, as above, and speak to a member of staff, who will be able to advise you. 

A radiographer or nurse will ask you to undress and put on a hospital gown and dressing gown. In the X-ray room you will be asked to drink some flavoured barium liquid to outline your oesophagus and stomach, and some granules with a small amount of water. The granules fizz and form wind in your stomach. It is important to try to keep the wind down to enable the doctor to produce good images.

During the examination the doctor will tilt the examination stand so that you move from the standing position to lying down and ask you to turn into different positions for the X-rays to be taken.

Some patients need a small injection to relax their stomach muscles, as part of the examination.

The examination usually takes 20-30 minutes. However, it is sometimes necessary to take additional delayed films, and so it is advisable to allow one to one-and-a-half hours in the department.

We are all exposed to natural background radiation every day of our lives. Each X-ray examination gives us a small additional dose. This dose varies with each type of examination. Everything is done within the X-ray department to minimise this dose. X-rays may be harmful to an unborn child, especially in the earlier stages of pregnancy.

There are no short-term side effects. However, in the few days after examination your stools may turn white. This is the barium working through your system, and is helped by drinking plenty of water.

Yes.

A report will be sent to the consultant or GP who requested the procedure, within two weeks of your examination.

If you need an ambulance, you must ask your GP Surgery to arrange one, but you will need to give them three working days notice.  Please inform the department if you are arriving by ambulance as we will arrange your appointment time to fit with ambulance arrivals.