BARIUM SWALLOW

Course overview

THE BARIUM SWALLOW STUDY, ALSO KNOWN AS A BARIUM ESOPHAGOGRAM OR ESOPHAGRAM, IS A CONTRAST-ENHANCED RADIOGRAPHIC STUDY COMMONLY USED TO ASSESS STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ENTIRE ESOPHAGUS. IT MAY BE USED FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF A WIDE RANGE OF PATHOLOGIES INCLUDING ESOPHAGEAL MOTILITY DISORDERS, STRICTURES, AND PERFORATIONS. IT MAY ALSO BE USED TO CHARACTERIZE MORE DISTAL PATHOLOGY SUCH AS A HIATAL HERNIA OR GASTRIC VOLVULUS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE BARIUM SWALLOW STUDY, ITS INDICATIONS, AND CONTRAINDICATIONS, AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN EVALUATING PATIENTS WITH ESOPHAGEAL PATHOLOGY.