Upper GI Series
 

National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse 

U.S. Department 

of Health and 

Human Services 

NATIONAL 

INSTITUTES 

OF HEALTH 

What is an upper 

gastrointestinal (GI) series? 

An upper GI series uses x rays to help diagnose problems of the upper GI tract, which 

includes the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. The duodenum is the first part of the 

small intestine. 

What problems can an upper 

GI series detect? 

An upper GI series can help detect 

• 	 ulcers 

• 	 abnormal growths 

• 	scars or strictures—narrowings of the 

GI tract 

• 	 hiatal hernia 

• 	 diverticula—bulges in the wall of the 


esophagus or intestine
 

• 	 esophageal varices—enlarged veins in 

the esophagus 

When is an upper GI series 

used? 

An upper GI series can be used to help determine the cause of 

• 	 abdominal pain 

• 	 nausea 

• 	 vomiting 

• 	swallowing diffi culties 

Esophagus 

Duodenum 

Stomach 

An upper GI series uses x rays to help diagnose 

problems of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. 

• 	 gastroesophageal reflux—a condition in 

which food and digestive juices rise from 

the stomach into the esophagus 

• 	 unexplained weight loss 

How to Prepare for an 

Upper GI Series 

The upper GI tract must be empty prior to 

an upper GI series. Generally, no eating or 

drinking is allowed for 8 hours before the 

procedure. Smoking and chewing gum are 

also prohibited during this time. 
Patients should tell their doctor about all 

health conditions they have—especially 

allergies to medications or foods—and 

about all medications they are taking. 

Women should let their doctor know if 

they are pregnant. Developing fetuses 

are particularly sensitive to x rays. Special 

precautions can be taken to minimize 

exposure, or the doctor may suggest an 

alternate procedure such as upper GI 

endoscopy. 

How is an upper GI series 

performed? 

An upper GI series is conducted by a radiology technologist or a radiologist—a doctor 

who specializes in x-ray imaging—at a hospital or outpatient center. 

While sitting or standing in front of an 

x-ray machine, the patient drinks barium 

liquid, which is often white and has a chalky 

consistency and taste. The barium liquid 

coats the lining of the upper GI tract and 

makes signs of disease show up more clearly 

on x rays. X-ray video, called fl uoroscopy, 

is used to view the barium liquid moving 

through the esophagus, stomach, and 

duodenum. 

Additional x rays and fl uoroscopy are 

performed while the patient lies on an x-ray 

table. To fully coat the upper GI tract with 

barium liquid, the technologist or radiologist 

may press on the abdomen or ask the patient 

to change position. Patients hold still in 

various positions, allowing the technologist or 

radiologist to take x rays of the upper GI tract 

at different angles. If a technologist conducts 

the upper GI series, a radiologist will later 

examine the images to look for problems. 

What is a double contrast 

study? 

The double contrast study gets its name from 

the combination of air and liquid barium 

working together to create a more detailed 

view of the stomach lining. The patient swallows gas-forming crystals, which are activated 

when they mix with the barium liquid. The 

gas expands the barium-coated stomach, 

exposing finer details of the stomach lining, 

and additional x rays are taken. 

Recovery from an Upper GI 

Series 

Patients may experience bloating and nausea 

for a short time after an upper GI series. 

Not eating before the test and the test itself 

may cause one to feel tired. For several 

days afterward, barium liquid in the GI tract 

causes stools to be white or light colored. 

Unless otherwise directed, patients may 

immediately resume their normal diet once 

they leave the hospital or outpatient center. 

What are the risks 

associated with an upper 

GI series? 

Mild constipation from the barium liquid is 

the most common complication of an upper 

GI series. Rarely, barium liquid causes 

bowel obstruction, a life-threatening condition that blocks the intestines. Drinking 

plenty of liquids after an upper GI series 

flushes out the barium and helps reduce the 

risks of constipation and bowel obstruction. 

Although infrequent, barium can cause 

an allergic reaction, which is treated with 

antihistamines. Some barium liquids contain 

flavorings, which may also cause an allergic 

reaction. 

2 Upper GI Series 
The risk of radiation-related damage to 

cells or tissues from an upper GI series is 

low. People who have recently undergone 

other x-ray tests should talk with their 

doctor about potential risks. 

Patients who experience any of the following rare symptoms should contact their 

doctor immediately: 

• 	severe abdominal pain 

• 	failure to have a bowel movement 


within 2 days after the procedure
 

• 	 inability to pass gas 

• 	fever 

Points to Remember 

• 	An upper GI series uses x rays to help 

diagnose problems of the upper GI 

tract, which includes the esophagus, 

stomach, and duodenum. 

• 	The upper GI tract must be empty 

prior to an upper GI series. Generally, 

no eating or drinking is allowed 

for 8 hours before the procedure. 

Smoking and chewing gum are also 

prohibited during this time. 

• 	An upper GI series is conducted by a 

radiology technologist or a radiologist 

at a hospital or outpatient center. 

• 	 During the procedure, the patient 

drinks barium liquid and x-ray pictures 

and x-ray video, called fl uoroscopy, 

are taken. 

• 	After the procedure, patients may 

experience bloating and nausea and 

feel tired. 

• 	Possible risks of an upper GI series 


include mild constipation, bowel 


obstruction, an allergic reaction to 


barium, and cell and tissue damage 


from radiation exposure. 


Hope through Research 

The National Institute of Diabetes and 

Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) 

conducts and supports basic and clinical 

research into many digestive disorders. 

Participants in clinical trials can play a more 

active role in their own health care, gain 

access to new research treatments before 

they are widely available, and help others 

by contributing to medical research. For 

information about current studies, visit 

www.ClinicalTrials.gov. 

For More Information 

Fact sheets about other diagnostic tests 

are available from the National Digestive 

Diseases Information Clearinghouse at 

www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov, including 

• 	 Colonoscopy 

• 	 ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde 


Cholangiopancreatography)
 

• 	 Flexible Sigmoidoscopy 

• 	 Liver Biopsy 

• 	 Lower GI Series 

• 	 Upper GI Endoscopy 

• 	 Virtual Colonoscopy 

American College of Gastroenterology 

P.O. Box 342260 

Bethesda, MD 20827–2260 

Phone: 301–263–9000 

Fax: 301–263–9025 

Email: info@acg.gi.org 

Internet: www.acg.gi.org 

American Gastroenterological Association 

4930 Del Ray Avenue 

Bethesda, MD 20814 

Phone: 301–654–2055 

Fax: 301–654–5920 

Email: member@gastro.org 

Internet: www.gastro.org 

3 	 Upper GI Series 
Acknowledgments 

Publications produced by the Clearinghouse 

are carefully reviewed by both NIDDK scientists and outside experts. This publication 

was reviewed by M. Brian Fennerty, M.D., 

Oregon Health and Science University. 

You may also find additional information about this 

topic by visiting MedlinePlus at www.medlineplus.gov. 

This publication may contain information about 

medications. When prepared, this publication 

included the most current information available. 

For updates or for questions about any medications, 

contact the U.S. Food and Drug Administration 

toll-free at 1–888–INFO–FDA (1–888–463–6332) 

or visit www.fda.gov. Consult your doctor for more 

information. 

National Digestive Diseases 

Information Clearinghouse 

2 Information Way 

Bethesda, MD 20892–3570 

Phone: 1–800–891–5389 

TTY: 1–866–569–1162 

Fax: 703–738–4929 

Email: nddic@info.niddk.nih.gov 

Internet: www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov 

The National Digestive Diseases Information 

Clearinghouse (NDDIC) is a service of the 

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive 

and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The 

NIDDK is part of the National Institutes of 

Health of the U.S. Department of Health 

and Human Services. Established in 1980, 

the Clearinghouse provides information 

about digestive diseases to people with 

digestive disorders and to their families, 

health care professionals, and the public. 

The NDDIC answers inquiries, develops and 

distributes publications, and works closely 

with professional and patient organizations 

and Government agencies to coordinate 

resources about digestive diseases. 

This publication is not copyrighted. The Clearinghouse 

encourages users of this publication to duplicate and 

distribute as many copies as desired. 

This publication is available at 

www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov. 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 

AND HUMAN SERVICES 

National Institutes of Health 

NIH Publication No. 10–4335 

December 2009