Barium swallow
Disclosures
- updated 13 Nov 2022:
Nothing to disclose
Updates to Article Attributes
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was changed:
Barium swallow is a dedicated test of the pharynx, oesophagus, and proximal stomach, and may be performed as a single or double contrast study. The study is often "modified" to suit the history and symptoms of the individual patient, but it is often useful to evaluate the entire pathway from the lips to the gastric fundus.
Upper GI endoscopy (UGIE or OGD) has largely replaced the barium swallow for the assessment of peptic ulcer disease and the evaluation of haematemesis.
Indications
However, there remain many indications for a barium swallow including:
- high or low dysphagia
- gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)
- assessment of a hiatus hernia
- generalised epigastric pain
- globus pharyngeus
- persistent vomiting
- assessment of fistula
- inability to pass the endoscope during UGIE
Contraindications
Water-soluble contrast agents should be used instead of barium sulfate in the following cases:
- suspected perforation
- postoperative assessment for leak
Caution should be exercised when using water-soluble contrast agents in patients with a risk for aspiration. Aspiration of high-osmolarity water-soluble contrast agents has been associated with massive pulmonary oedema and subsequent death. A low osmolarity agent such as Omnipaque may be used in this setting. When barium is not used, the study is often called a contrast swallow.
Technique
Examination technique depends on the indication of the study. Preparation needed for study is overnight fasting, avoiding smoking or chewing gum to decrease the secretions in the oral cavity and pharynx.
Evaluation of pharynx
- scout films are obtained to rule out any foreign body, abscess or fistula
- the examination is performed in the upright lateral position after swallowing high-density barium
- right lateral views should be obtained initially to rule out aspiration or penetration, then frontal views are obtained
- dynamic videofluoroscopic examination should be simultaneously acquired for optimal evaluation
- spots are obtained quickly during suspended respiration and under phonation (patient instructed to say "Eeeee....") to distend the hypopharynx 1
Evaluation of oesophagus
- double-contrast barium swallow is the preferred mode of examination
- the patient swallows a packet of effervescent agent and then rapidly gulps a packet of high-density barium
- frontal and left posterior oblique views are taken
- two exposures are centred on the upper/mid oesophagus and two on distal oesophagus
- then, the table is brought to the horizontal position and patient turns to right lateral position for a view of gastric cardia and fundus
- the patient drinks low-density barium in prone right anterior oblique position
- two to five separate swallows are assessed to evaluate motility of the oesophagus
- this also permits evaluation of distal oesophagus and GE junction, delineating lower oesophageal rings and strictures
- patient is finally turned onto the left side and then onto the back so that barium pools in the gastric fundus
- GE junction is then observed fluoroscopically as the patient slowly turns to right, looking for elicited gastro-oesophageal reflux
- straight leg raising, Valsalva manoeuvre or drinking water (water siphon test) can also elicit gastro-oesophageal reflux
- additional views like mucosal relief views are useful in suspected tumours, varices or oesophagitis
Radiographic features
On the lateral view, the tongue base and epiglottis are seen from the side, with the vallecula between 4. A posterior indentation caused by contraction of the cricopharyngeus muscle indicates the commencement of the cervical oesophagus.
On the frontal view, the pyriform fossae are outlined by barium and the epiglottis and the base of the tongue show as filling defects in the midline 4.
The cervical oesophagus lies on the ventral surface of the cervical spine.
The thoracic oesophagus is best demonstrated in the right anterior oblique position.
-<p><strong>Barium swallow</strong> is a dedicated test of the <a href="/articles/pharynx">pharynx</a>, <a href="/articles/oesophagus">oesophagus</a>, and proximal <a href="/articles/stomach">stomach</a>, and may be performed as a single or double contrast study. The study is often "modified" to suit the history and symptoms of the individual patient, but it is often useful to evaluate the entire pathway from the lips to the gastric fundus.</p><p><a href="/articles/upper-gi-endoscopy">Upper GI endoscopy</a> (UGIE or OGD) has largely replaced the barium swallow for the assessment of <a href="/articles/peptic-ulcer-disease">peptic ulcer disease</a> and the evaluation of haematemesis.</p><h4>Indications</h4><p>However, there remain many indications for a barium swallow including:</p><ul>-<li>high or low <a href="/articles/dysphagia">dysphagia</a>-</li>-<li><a href="/articles/gastro-oesophageal-reflux-disease">gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)</a></li>-<li>assessment of a <a href="/articles/hiatus-hernia">hiatus hernia</a>-</li>-<li>generalised epigastric pain</li>-<li><a href="/articles/globus-pharyngeus-1">globus pharyngeus</a></li>-<li>persistent vomiting</li>-<li>assessment of fistula</li>-<li>inability to pass the endoscope during UGIE</li>-</ul><h4>Contraindications</h4><p><a href="/articles/water-soluble-contrast-media">Water-soluble contrast agents</a> should be used instead of <a href="/articles/barium-sulfate-contrast-medium">barium sulfate</a> in the following cases:</p><ul>-<li>suspected perforation</li>-<li>postoperative assessment for leak</li>-</ul><p>Caution should be exercised when using water-soluble contrast agents in patients with a risk for <a href="/articles/aspiration">aspiration</a>. Aspiration of high-osmolarity water-soluble contrast agents has been associated with massive pulmonary oedema and subsequent death. A low osmolarity agent such as Omnipaque may be used in this setting. When barium is not used, the study is often called a contrast swallow.</p><h4>Technique</h4><p>Examination technique depends on the indication of the study. Preparation needed for study is overnight fasting, avoiding <a href="/articles/tobacco-abuse">smoking</a> or chewing gum to decrease the secretions in the oral cavity and pharynx.</p><h5>Evaluation of pharynx</h5><ul>-<li>scout films are obtained to rule out any foreign body, abscess or fistula</li>-<li>the examination is performed in the upright lateral position after swallowing <a href="/articles/barium-sulfate-contrast-medium">high-density barium</a>-</li>-<li>right lateral views should be obtained initially to rule out aspiration or penetration, then frontal views are obtained</li>-<li>dynamic videofluoroscopic examination should be simultaneously acquired for optimal evaluation</li>-<li>spots are obtained quickly during suspended respiration and under phonation (patient instructed to say "Eeeee....") to distend the hypopharynx <sup>1</sup>-</li>-</ul><h5>Evaluation of oesophagus</h5><ul>-<li>double-contrast barium swallow is the preferred mode of examination</li>-<li>the patient swallows a packet of effervescent agent and then rapidly gulps a packet of high-density barium</li>-<li>frontal and left posterior oblique views are taken</li>-<li>two exposures are centred on the upper/mid oesophagus and two on distal oesophagus</li>-<li>then, the table is brought to the horizontal position and patient turns to right lateral position for a view of gastric cardia and fundus</li>-<li>the patient drinks low-density barium in prone right anterior oblique position<ul>-<li>two to five separate swallows are assessed to evaluate motility of the oesophagus</li>-<li>this also permits evaluation of distal oesophagus and GE junction, delineating lower oesophageal rings and strictures</li>-</ul>-</li>-<li>patient is finally turned onto the left side and then onto the back so that barium pools in the gastric fundus</li>-<li>GE junction is then observed fluoroscopically as the patient slowly turns to right, looking for elicited gastro-oesophageal reflux</li>-<li>straight leg raising, Valsalva manoeuvre or drinking water (<a href="/articles/water-siphon-test-2">water siphon test</a>) can also elicit gastro-oesophageal reflux</li>-<li>additional views like mucosal relief views are useful in suspected tumours, varices or oesophagitis</li>- +<p><strong>Barium swallow</strong> is a dedicated test of the <a href="/articles/pharynx">pharynx</a>, <a href="/articles/oesophagus">oesophagus</a>, and proximal <a href="/articles/stomach">stomach</a>, and may be performed as a single or double contrast study. The study is often "modified" to suit the history and symptoms of the individual patient, but it is often useful to evaluate the entire pathway from the lips to the gastric fundus.</p><p><a href="/articles/upper-gi-endoscopy">Upper GI endoscopy</a> (UGIE or OGD) has largely replaced the barium swallow for the assessment of <a href="/articles/peptic-ulcer-disease">peptic ulcer disease</a> and the evaluation of haematemesis.</p><h4>Indications</h4><p>However, there remain many indications for a barium swallow including:</p><ul>
- +<li>high or low <a href="/articles/dysphagia">dysphagia</a>
- +</li>
- +<li><a href="/articles/gastro-oesophageal-reflux-disease">gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)</a></li>
- +<li>assessment of a <a href="/articles/hiatus-hernia">hiatus hernia</a>
- +</li>
- +<li>generalised epigastric pain</li>
- +<li><a href="/articles/globus-pharyngeus-1">globus pharyngeus</a></li>
- +<li>persistent vomiting</li>
- +<li>assessment of fistula</li>
- +<li>inability to pass the endoscope during UGIE</li>
- +</ul><h4>Contraindications</h4><p><a href="/articles/water-soluble-contrast-media">Water-soluble contrast agents</a> should be used instead of <a href="/articles/barium-sulfate-contrast-medium">barium sulfate</a> in the following cases:</p><ul>
- +<li>suspected perforation</li>
- +<li>postoperative assessment for leak</li>
- +</ul><p>Caution should be exercised when using water-soluble contrast agents in patients with a risk for <a href="/articles/aspiration">aspiration</a>. Aspiration of high-osmolarity water-soluble contrast agents has been associated with massive pulmonary oedema and subsequent death. A low osmolarity agent such as Omnipaque may be used in this setting. When barium is not used, the study is often called a contrast swallow.</p><h4>Technique</h4><p>Examination technique depends on the indication of the study. Preparation needed for study is overnight fasting, avoiding <a href="/articles/tobacco-abuse">smoking</a> or chewing gum to decrease the secretions in the oral cavity and pharynx.</p><h5>Evaluation of pharynx</h5><ul>
- +<li>scout films are obtained to rule out any foreign body, abscess or fistula</li>
- +<li>the examination is performed in the upright lateral position after swallowing <a href="/articles/barium-sulfate-contrast-medium">high-density barium</a>
- +</li>
- +<li>right lateral views should be obtained initially to rule out aspiration or penetration, then frontal views are obtained</li>
- +<li>dynamic videofluoroscopic examination should be simultaneously acquired for optimal evaluation</li>
- +<li>spots are obtained quickly during suspended respiration and under phonation (patient instructed to say "Eeeee....") to distend the hypopharynx <sup>1</sup>
- +</li>
- +</ul><h5>Evaluation of oesophagus</h5><ul>
- +<li>double-contrast barium swallow is the preferred mode of examination</li>
- +<li>the patient swallows a packet of effervescent agent and then rapidly gulps a packet of high-density barium</li>
- +<li>frontal and left posterior oblique views are taken</li>
- +<li>two exposures are centred on the upper/mid oesophagus and two on distal oesophagus</li>
- +<li>then, the table is brought to the horizontal position and patient turns to right lateral position for a view of gastric cardia and fundus</li>
- +<li>the patient drinks low-density barium in prone right anterior oblique position<ul>
- +<li>two to five separate swallows are assessed to evaluate motility of the oesophagus</li>
- +<li>this also permits evaluation of distal oesophagus and GE junction, delineating lower oesophageal rings and strictures</li>
- +</ul>
- +</li>
- +<li>patient is finally turned onto the left side and then onto the back so that barium pools in the gastric fundus</li>
- +<li>GE junction is then observed fluoroscopically as the patient slowly turns to right, looking for elicited gastro-oesophageal reflux</li>
- +<li>straight leg raising, Valsalva manoeuvre or drinking water (<a href="/articles/water-siphon-test-2">water siphon test</a>) can also elicit gastro-oesophageal reflux</li>
- +<li>additional views like mucosal relief views are useful in suspected tumours, varices or oesophagitis</li>
Images Changes:
Image 12 Fluoroscopy (Oblique) ( create )
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