Routine X-rays
Upper Gastric Intestinal (UGI) Series
Upper Gastric Intestinal (UGI) with Small Bowel Series
Esophagram
Routine X-rays
Offered at Baptist, South Miami and Homestead Hospitals, and all Baptist Outpatient Centers and Medical Plazas.
Chest
Ribs
Sternum
Upper Extremities
Shoulder
Clavicle
Acromio-Clavicular Joints
Sterno-Clavicular Joints
Humerus
Elbow
Forearm
Hand and/or Wrist
Fingers
Spine
Cervical
Thoracic
Lumbar, Sacro-iliac Joints, Sacrum and/or Coccyx
Pelvis and Hips
Lower Extremities
Femur
Knee
Tibia/Fibula
Ankle
Foot
Heel (Os Calsis or Calcaneus)
Toes
Head and Neck
Skull
Sinuses
Temporomandibular Joints
Mandible
Mastoids
Orbits
Facial/ Nasal Bone
Soft Tissue Neck
Abdomen/Kub
Bone Surveys
What is it?
Your physician has ordered a routine X-ray. Routine X-ray exams are used in the assessment of pain, possible fractures, coughs, fevers, headaches, and to check for foreign bodies. Routine exams give a picture of the lungs, heart, bony detail, gas patterns, and radiopaque objects (objects X-rays will not penetrate). The exam can take from 20 minutes to an hour.
What is the general procedure for a routine X-ray exam?
You may be asked to change into a gown, depending on what type of exam you are having. You can always keep your underpants/shorts and shoes on. You may need to remove all jewelry especially necklaces/chains and earrings. Once you have changed, you may have a seat in the dressing room until the technologist comes to take you to the X-ray room. The X-ray pictures will be taken with you either standing or lying on the table
Please contact your physician within 7-10 days to discuss the results.
Preparation
These exams can be done on a walk-in basis, but you can expect a 2-3 hour wait after registration. If possible, make an appointment for your exam so that you will be able to get in and out more quickly. If this is a follow-up exam, it will give our film library time to have your previous exam available for comparison. Please do not come on your lunch break because we may not be able to have you out on time.
The technologist will need to know if there is any possibility you are pregnant.
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Upper Gastric Intestinal (UGI) Series
Offered at Baptist, Doctors, Homestead and South Miami Hospitals and Baptist Outpatient Center.
What Is It?
Your physician has ordered a UGI (Upper Gastric Intestinal) series. This is an X-ray study of the esophagus, stomach and first section of the small intestine that helps in the diagnosis of reflux, gastritis and peptic ulcer disease.
What is the general procedure for a UGI?
You will be given a glass of a white, chalky liquid called barium, which fills the stomach and the first section of the small intestine so that they will be clearly visualized in the X-ray. Throughout the procedure, the technologist will let you know when to drink, how much to drink, and when to stop. The technologist will ask you to lie in certain positions while taking pictures. You will be asked to hold your breath as the pictures are taken.
It is very important that for the next two days you drink an additional 8-10 glasses of water each day to flush out your system so you do not get constipated. You may return to your normal diet unless otherwise specified by your physician.
Your stools may be off-white for a day or two until the barium passes through your system.
Please contact your physician within 7-10 days to discuss the results.
Preparation
Eat a light dinner the night before the X-ray. After midnight and until the X-rays are done, you must not eat, drink or chew gum.
If you have diabetes, please let our scheduling representative know so that you can be given the earliest possible appointment. Also, bring a snack to eat after the procedure is over. It is also important to tell the technologist that you have diabetes.
The technologist will need to know if there is any possibility that you are pregnant or if you are nursing.
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Upper Gastric Intestinal (UGI) with Small Bowel Series
Offered at Baptist, Doctors, Homestead and South Miami Hospitals, and Baptist Outpatient Center.
What Is It?
Your physician has ordered an UGI with small bowel series. This X-ray helps in the assessment of anemia, Crohn's disease, abdominal pain, and a positive hemocult.
A UGI with small bowel series exam is done with barium, a white chalky liquid used to coat the stomach and small bowel, making it possible for the upper gastric intestinal tract and small bowel to be seen on X-rays.
What is the general procedure for a UGI with a small bowel series?
You will be asked to change into a gown and remove everything except for your underpants/shorts and shoes (please leave your shoes on until you are in the X-ray room).
You will be asked to lie on your back on the X-ray table, and the technologist will take a picture. After the technologist checks this picture with the radiologist, you will be given a cup of barium to drink (about 10 ounces). You will then be asked to lie face down for another picture. You will be given another cup of barium. You will have an X-ray 15 minutes later and then every 30 minutes until the barium is through your small bowel. When the barium reaches the area where the small bowel connects to the colon, one more X-ray will be taken.
The bowel series is not a quick X-ray, because there are waiting periods between pictures. The length of the exam depends on how quickly the barium moves though the small intestine. Some exams may take up to four hours to complete. We suggest you do not make any plans after the exam.
Please contact your physician within 7-10 days to discuss the results.
Preparation
You must not have anything to eat or drink after midnight. Please do not eat, drink or chew gum the day of the exam.
If you have diabetes, please let our scheduling representative know so that you can be given the earliest possible appointment. Also, bring a snack to eat after the procedure is over. It is also important to tell the technologist that you have diabetes.
The technologist will need to know if there is any possibility that you are pregnant or if you are nursing.
It is very important that for the next two days you drink an additional 8-10 glasses of water each day to flush out your system so you do not get constipated. You may return to your normal diet unless otherwise specified by your physician.
Your stools may be off-white for a day or two until the barium passes through your system.
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Esophagram
Offered at Baptist, Doctors, South Miami and Homestead Hospitals, and Baptist Outpatient Center.
What Is It?
Your physician has ordered an esophagram. This X-ray helps in the assessment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and dysphasia (difficulty in swallowing).
An esophagram is an exam done with barium, a chalky substance that coats your esophagus, making it possible for the esophagus to be seen on X-rays. This exam takes about 20 minutes once you are in the X-ray room.
What is the general procedure for an esophagram?
You will be asked to change into a gown, removing everything from the waist up. You will also have to remove earrings and necklaces/chains.
Once you have changed, you will wait in the dressing room until the technologist comes to get you to take you to the X-ray room. You will lie on the X-ray table and the technologist will take a series of pictures of the esophagus from different angles. Throughout the exam you will take swallows of barium through a straw while the radiologist checks for reflux.
Please contact your physician within 7-10 days to discuss the results.
Preparation
There is no prep for this exam unless it has been ordered with an Upper Gastric Intestinal Series. If so, please do not have anything to eat or drink or chew gum after midnight and do not eat or drink or chew anything 2 hours before exam. And no smoking.
This exam must be scheduled.
The technologist will need to know if there is a possibility you are pregnant or if you are nursing.
It is very important after the esophagram that you drink at least an additional 8-10 glasses of water for the next two days to flush the barium out of you system so that you do not get constipated. You may also return to your normal diet unless otherwise specified by your physician.
Your stools will be off-white for a day or two until the barium passes from your system.
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- The equipment used for your procedure requires a very cold environment. Please bring a sweater.
- Please leave all valuables at home.
- If you have any questions about these instructions or have any other concerns, contact your doctor immediately.
Disclaimer: These instructions are general guidelines. If your physician gives you more detailed directions, follow his/her advice.