ABSTRACT
For a barium swallow study, the patient is positioned between a fluoroscopy machine containing an X-ray tube and an image intensifier. This provides a real-time image that can be collimated to emphasize organs of the patient’s neck and chest. The patient is asked to drink a contrast agent (e.g. barium) and hold it in the mouth. In coordination with the radiologist, asking the patient to swallow on command allows for good opacification of the oesophagus and direct real-time observation of the passage the contrast takes. Although many fluoroscopy studies are rarely used these days (e.g. barium enemas), swallow studies using barium or iodinated contrast medium are the ‘workhorse’ of foregut imaging. As a relatively non-invasive technique, it allows for accurate visualization of the oesophageal diameter and mucosa, and is often used to confirm the presence of persistent oesophageal leaks post-operatively.
