GI, short for Gastrointestinal, studies are studies of the digestive system, or, to be more exact, the alimentary canal section of the digestive system. This includes from top to bottom, the esophagus, the stomach, the small intestine or bowel, and the large intestine or bowel. The studies themselves include, a Barium Swallow, an Upper GI, a Small Bowel Follow Through, and a Barium Enema.
Most often these studies are done using Barium, a suspension of barium salts in water that results in a thick, white, chalky liquid that can either be drunk or administered as an enema. Other times a "water soluble" contrast such as Gastograffin will be used. By water soluble, we mean a substance that can be dissolved completely in water. One way to understand the difference between "dissolve" and "suspension" would be to compare them to tea or coffee and most salad dressings. When you put sugar in your tea or coffee, the sugar dissolves into the liquid and will not come back out no matter how long you let it sit; but when you let salad dressing sit for too long, it will separate out forcing you to shake the bottle up again before you use it. So it is with water soluble contrast like Gastograffin and barium. Once in liquid form, Gastograffin stays that way, while Barium tends to settle out over a relatively long period of time.
Occasionally, your doctor may order a Complete GI study, which will include every study listed above combined into one study with two sections. If possible, we will do it all in one day, but it is not always possible. You see, the large intestine loops around the small intestine and stomach, making it difficult to see things if too much barium is in any overlapping part. As a result, we will start with a Barium Enema since you will be getting rid of most, if not all of the barium used in the study at the end of the exam. A film will then be taken after all the barium is expelled that is possible to see if the radiologist can see the stomach and small intestines clearly enough. If the radiologist can, then the rest of your Complete GI will be done. If not, then, whether we like it or not, you will have to be rescheduled to have the remaining sections done on another day.
For more detailed information on the various exams, please click on the appropriate link in the chart below.
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