If there is a possibility of pregnancy, please inform the technologist prior to the date of your examination.
An Upper GI is an X-ray examination of the digestive tract, including the esophagus, stomach and duodenum.
Preparation
Do not eat or drink after midnight, the evening before the examination. Please do not smoke or chew gum on the morning of the examination.
On the day of your exam
Please arrive approximately 15 minutes prior to your appointment time to allow for parking and registration. Please plan to spend approximately 1-2 hours in our department. If you bring friends or family to the appointment they will be asked to wait in a waiting room during your scan. Children cannot be left unattended during your scan. Please arrange for a caregiver.
You will be asked to stand against the X-ray table, and will be given a flavored barium drink for visualization of your stomach.
The Radiologist (Medical Imaging Specialist) will request that you drink the barium and examine you with a fluoroscope (video X-ray) and X-ray images. An X-ray technologist will take additional X-rays of your stomach while you are lying on the X-ray table.
If your practitioner has requested a Small Bowel exam in addition to your stomach X-ray, you will be waiting in the X-ray department and timed films will be taken while the barium moves through your small intestine. It may require up to three hours to complete this exam.
Your bowel movements may appear light colored until the barium is expelled completely.
Results
Our radiologist will study your examination and a report will be forwarded to your practitioner, from whom you may obtain the results. If you have any questions regarding this procedure, please contact our department at at 608-342-4740.
Date of appointment _______________________________________ Time_____________________
Your procedure will be performed at Southwest Health at 1400 Eastside Road – Platteville, WI 53818. Please use the Main Hospital Entrance and check in at the Registration Desk prior to your scheduled procedure.
If you cannot keep your appointment please contact the radiology department at 608-342-4740 so that me may accommodate another patient.
NOTE: It may take 2-3 days to obtain verification from your insurance company for exams that require prior authorization, such as CT, MRI, Nuclear Stress, Injections, etc.