Mitchell County Regional Health Center Services

Radiology

Fluoroscopy

What is Fluoroscopy?

Fluoroscopy is a term that basically means “live” x-ray pictures. Think of Fluoroscopy as the Radiologist using an x-ray video camera to look at your insides. This is generally done to diagnose problems in digestive organs, such as the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, or large intestine. Because the organs alone cannot be seen with x-ray, the technologist will give the patient barium solution so the Radiologist can see the area better.

Fluoroscopy may also be used to help the Radiologist see where a joint space is. This can be used if a patient requires steroid injections in joints such as hip, shoulder, or knee.

Types of Procedures
What is a Barium Enema?

This is an examination that looks at the large intestine. This examination involves placing the tip of an enema tube into your rectum and filling your intestine with a barium solution. The tip has a small balloon on it, which will help hold the barium solution within your intestine. In some cases, air will be used to push the barium along and to distend the bowel. A series of x-ray images will be taken. Upon completion of your fluoroscopy exam, drink plenty of fluids (three to five extra glasses of water) over the next couple of days to assist passage of the barium. The barium should pass in one to two days. Until then you might notice white stools. You should not have any problems with constipation but if you do, a gentle laxative should relieve it.

This procedure will take 20-40 minutes.

*If you think you may be pregnant, please inform your physician or the technologist before your exam*

Preparation for Barium Enema procedure for patients 12 and older:
  1. Starting at 6:00 am the day before the exam, you must drink clear liquids (liquids you can see through). Drink at least one, eight ounce. glass of liquid each hour on the hour until bedtime (suggestions include water, clear bouillon soup or clear broth’s, all fruit juices, Jell-o, tea and coffee). No solid foods. Do not drink milk.
  2. At 8:00 am the day prior to the exam, take 10 ounces of Magnesium Citrate.
  3. At 4:00 pm, take four Bisacodyl USP 5 mg. tablets
  4. Do not eat or drink after midnight.
  5. All supplies are available over the counter at your pharmacy.
Preparation for Barium Enema procedure for patients 11 and under:
  1. Drink liquids having no solid portions starting at noon the day before the exam. Drink at least one glass of liquid each hour until bedtime (suggestions include water, clear bouillon soup or clear broth’s, all fruit juices, plain Jell-o, tea and coffee). No solid foods. Do not drink milk.
  2. At 4:00 pm, take one ounce of “Emulsoil” mixed with a half glass of carbonated drink (7-up, Sprite, etc.) at room temperature.
  3. Do not eat or drink after midnight.
  4. All supplies are available over the counter at your pharmacy.
     
What is an Esophagram?

This is an examination that looks at your esophagus. You will be given a barium solution to drink during the exam. Several x-rays will be taken during the examination. Upon completion of your fluoroscopy exam, drink plenty of fluids (three to five extra glasses of water) over the next couple of days to assist passage of the barium. The barium should pass in one to two days. Until then you might notice white stools. You should not have any problems with constipation but if you do, a gentle laxative should relieve it.

This procedure will take 20-40 minutes

*If you think you may be pregnant, please inform your physician or the technologist before your exam*

Preparation for Esophagram procedure:

Do not eat or drink anything after midnight before the exam. If you have medications that can be taken on an empty stomach, you may take with a small amount of water.

What is a Small Bowel Follow Through?

This is an examination that looks at the entire small intestine. You will be given a barium solution to drink during the exam. A series of images will be taken at different time intervals, ranging from 15 minutes to an hour or more, depending upon the activity of the bowel. Upon completion of your fluoroscopy exam, drink plenty of fluids the next couple of days to assist passage of the barium. The barium should pass in one to two days. Until then you might notice white stools. You should not have any problems with constipation but if you do, a gentle laxative should relieve it.

This procedure will take at least one hour. The exam time varies from one patient to another, depending on individual small bowel function.

*If you think you may be pregnant, please inform your physician or the technologist before your exam*

Preparation for Small Bowel Follow Through procedure:

A light evening meal the day before. Nothing to eat or drink after midnight prior to exam.

What is an UGI (Upper Gastro-Intestine)?

This is an examination that looks at your stomach. You will be given a barium solution to drink during the exam. Several x-rays will be taken during the examination. Upon completion of your fluoroscopy exam, drink plenty of fluids the next couple of days to assist passage of the barium. The barium should pass in one to two days. Until then you might notice white stools. You should not have any problems with constipation but if you do, a gentle laxative should relieve it.

This procedure will take 20-40 minutes.

*If you think you may be pregnant, please inform your physician or the technologist before your exam*

Preparation for UGI procedure:

Nothing to eat or drink after midnight prior to exam.

If you have any questions or would like more information contact us at:

Radiology Department
616 North Eighth Street
Osage, Iowa 50461-1498
Phone: 641.732.6036
Fax: 641.732.-6038