Gastrics (Credit Valley Hospital, Mississauga Hospital, Queensway Health Centre)
Description of Service
Upper GI Exam
Upper gastrointestinal tract radiography, also called an upper GI exam, is an x-ray examination of the pharynx, esophagus, stomach and duodenum. A special form of x-ray called fluoroscopy and an orally ingested contrast material called barium is required to capture images.
An upper GI examination helps evaluate digestive function and to detect:
- ulcers
- tumors, inflammation of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum
- hiatal hernias
- scarring
- blockages
- abnormalities of the muscular wall of GI tissues
The procedure is also used to help diagnose symptoms such as:
- difficulty swallowing
- chest and abdominal pain
- reflux (a backward flow of partially digested food and digestive juices)
- unexplained vomiting
- severe indigestion
- blood in the stool (indicating internal GI bleeding)
Preparation for Visit
How to Prepare for Your Procedure
To ensure the best possible image quality, your stomach must be empty of food. After midnight on the day of the examination, you must not to eat or drink anything (including any medications taken by mouth, especially antacids) and to refrain from chewing gum and smoking.
Let your doctor know about any medications you are taking and if you have any allergies, especially to barium or iodinated contrast materials. Also let your doctor know about recent illnesses or other medical conditions.
Women should always let their doctor or x-ray technologist know if there is any possibility that they are pregnant. Many imaging tests are not performed during pregnancy so as not to expose the fetus to radiation. If an x-ray is necessary, precautions will be taken to minimize radiation exposure to the baby.
You may be asked to remove some or all of your clothes and to wear a gown during the exam. You may also be asked to remove jewelry, eye glasses and any metal objects or clothing that might interfere with the x-ray images.
What to Expect from Your Procedure
This examination is usually performed on an outpatient basis and is often scheduled in the morning to reduce the amount of time you must fast.
A medical radiation technologist and a radiologist, a doctor that interprets images and supervise radiology examinations, guide the patient through the upper GI series.
As you drink the liquid barium, which resembles a light-colored milkshake, the radiologist will watch the barium pass through the patient's digestive tract on a fluoroscope, a device that projects radiographic images in a movie-like sequence onto a monitor. The exam table will be positioned at different angles and the patient's abdomen may be compressed to help spread the barium. Once the upper GI tract is adequately coated with the barium, still x-ray images will be taken and stored for further review.
You will be asked to hold very still and may be asked to keep from breathing for a few seconds while the x-ray picture is taken to reduce the possibility of a blurred image.
For a double-contrast upper GI series, you will swallow baking-soda crystals that create gas in the stomach while additional x-rays are taken.
When the examination is complete, you will be asked to wait until the radiologist determines that all the necessary images have been obtained.
This exam is usually completed within 20 minutes.
How It Works
Imaging with x-rays involves exposing a part of the body to a small dose of ionizing radiation to produce pictures of the inside of the body. X-rays are the oldest and most frequently used form of medical imaging.
Fluoroscopy makes it possible to see internal organs in motion. When the upper GI tract is coated with barium, the radiologist is able to view and assess the anatomy and function of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum.
An x-ray examination that evaluates only the pharynx and esophagus is called a barium swallow.
In addition to drinking barium, some patients are also given baking-soda crystals (similar to Alka-Seltzer) to further improve the images. This procedure is called an air-contrast or double-contrast upper GI.
Please note that due to the high number of patient visits to our hospital every day, you may experience clinic wait times and a delay in finding parking. We encourage you to arrive early and allow for extra time on the day of your appointment. If you arrive more than 15 minutes late, the appointment will be rescheduled to another day. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience and understanding.
Care Team
- Medical Radiation Technologists
- Radiologists
Hours of Operation
Queensway Health Centre
Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Credit Valley Hospital
Monday – Friday, 7:30 am – 3:30 pm
Mississauga Hospital
Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Location
Diagnostic Imaging
Queensway Health Centre
150 Sherway Dr
Etobicoke, ON M9C 1A5
Diagnostic Imaging
Credit Valley Hospital
2200 Eglinton Ave. W.
Mississauga, Ontario L5M 2N1
Diagnostic Imaging
Mississauga Hospital
100 Queensway W
Mississauga, ON L5B 1B8
Contact Information
Queensway Health Centre
Phone Number: 416-521-4069
Credit Valley Hospital
Phone Number: 905-813-2731
Mississauga Hospital
Phone Number: 416-521-4069
Referral Process
A referral from a doctor is required.
