What are barium studies?
These are studies of the gastro-intestinal performed using barium sulphate and x-rays.

Why are there different types of barium studies?
Depending on the area being examined, we have barium swallow, meal, meal-follow-through, enema and small bowel enema.

What are these?
Barium swallow is a study for the esophagus, barium meal for the stomach, barium meal follow-through for the small bowel, barium enema for the large bowel and small bowel enema for the small bowel. In swallow, meal and meal-follow-through examinations, the patient has to drink barium. In barium enema examinations, barium is injected using an enema tube. In small bowel enema examinations (enteroclysis), a tube is inserted from the nose to the duodenum and barium is injected.

How do barium examinations work?
Barium is an inert substance that coats the internal lining of the bowel and fills up its lumen. It is radio-opaque and thus seen very well on x-rays.

Is there any danger?
Barium by itself is an inert substance and completely harmless. However if it escapes into the abdominal or thoracic cavity through a perforation, it can cause severe inflammation. Thus barium studies should not be done in patients with suspected perforation.

What preparation is required?
For barium swallow, none. For barium meal, at least six hours fasting. For barium meal follow-through, overnight fasting with Dulcolax tablets for clearing the bowel. For small bowel and barium enema, overnight fasting with liquid diet the day before and aggressive clearing of the bowel with Dulcolax tablets the night before and in the morning.

How much time do they take?
From 15 minutes for a swallow to 2-3hours for barium meal follow-through examinations.

How much do these studies cost?
Between Rs 800 and Rs 2500.