We make it a priority to ensure you are at ease during your GI exam. Canada Diagnostic Centres provides private change rooms and a comfortable cloth gown or scrubs. You may also be asked to remove your jewelry before the exam. One of our technologists will assist you to the fluoroscopy room and help to position you on a table.

Upper GI

An Upper GI exam typically takes only 15 minutes. You will be asked to change into a gown or cloth scrubs in a change room. Once in the fluoroscopy room the radiologist will usually ask you to drink two substances. The first is a solution containing granules that cause gas. The second is a cup of liquid barium, which resembles a light-colored milkshake. Both of these liquids help to improve the quality of the images. The radiologist watches the barium pass through your digestive tract on a digital fluoroscope. This is a device that projects radiographic images in a movie-like sequence onto a monitor. The exam table will be positioned at different angles to help move the barium. X-ray images will be taken of the upper gastrointestinal tract once it is adequately coated with the barium.

During the procedure, you should be capable of holding your breath for a few seconds to reduce motion on the images. You must be mobile enough to turn with assistance.

When the test is completed, you are free to leave and resume normal activities. Our technologist will ask you to drink plenty of fluid for two days after the test to help prevent constipation from the barium. They may also indicate taking a mild laxative. Please advise your referring physician if you are unable to have a bowel movement or if your bowel habits undergo any significant changes following the exam. Occasionally, you may experience diarrhea as opposed to constipation. This is a normal side affect. Also, the barium may colour stools gray or white for 48-72 hours post procedure.

Small Bowel Follow Through:

A Small Bowel Follow Through can take anywhere from 1 to 4 hours. You will be asked to change into a gown or cloth scrubs in a change room. A technologist will ask you to drink two cups of liquid barium, which resembles a light-colored milkshake. The radiologist will watch the barium pass through your digestive tract on a fluoroscope. This device projects radiographic images in a movie-like sequence onto a monitor. More images will be taken at timed intervals to track how the barium is travelling through the GI tract. When the barium starts to empty into the large intestine, the technologist or radiologist will take several more images with the fluoroscope.

Barium Enema:

A Barium Enema typically takes 30-45 minutes. You will be asked to change into a gown or cloth scrubs in an assigned change room. The radiologist or technologist will insert a small tube into the rectum while using fluoroscopic imaging. Barium will then be run into the colon. You will be positioned to assist the movement of the barium through most of the large bowel. Most of the barium will then be drained out and air will be slowly injected. This helps to produce good images. Once all the images have been obtained, the tube will be removed and you will be assisted to the washroom.

During the procedure you should be capable of holding your breath for a few seconds to reduce motion in the images. You must be mobile enough to turn with assistance. Our technologist will ask you to drink plenty of fluids for two days after the test to help prevent constipation from the barium. They may also suggest taking a mild laxative. Please advise your referring physician if you are unable to have a bowel movement for more than two days or if your bowel habits undergo any significant changes following the exam. The barium may color stools gray or white for 48-72 hours post procedure.