Preparing for an Upper Gastrointestinal Exam

How should I prepare for my Upper Gastrointestinal Exam?

If you are having any or all of the UGI studies, please do not eat or drink anything after midnight. Also do not take any medications, smoke, or chew gum the morning of the exam. If you are having the small bowel exam, please be prepared to stay 3 to 6 hours.

What should I expect during a UGI exam?

Each of the three exams requires drinking a contrast medium to make your organs visible on x-ray. You will be given a barium solution (thick, chalky substance) to drink. If you are having a UGI, you will also be asked to drink a crystal solution which is similar to Alka Seltzer. The radiologist will be taking images as you swallow the barium.

Barium swallows and UGI exams take about 30 minutes. A small bowel exam may take about several hours, depending upon how fast the contrast moves through your small intestine.

Which locations offer Upper Gastrointestinal Exams?

Only our Morganton location performs UGI exams.