X-Ray Exam of the Small Bowel (Small Intestine)

Your doctor has ordered an x-ray examination of the small bowel. The small bowel examination will help your physician in treating your symptoms, after he/she gets the report from the radiologist.

The examination is simple and not at all uncomfortable. You will drink a liquid called barium, which is readily visible on x-rays. The examination may take several hours, although the average time is about 2 hours. The number of x-rays varies with each patient.

When you arrive at the Radiology department on the day of your scheduled exam, you will be asked to remove clothing and neckwear and will be given a hospital gown to put on in the dressing room.

PREPARATION

You must follow a simple preparation for the Small Bowel exam to be successful. It is an EXTREMELY important part of the exam. Failure to follow the preparation instructions may interfere with the results. This could require having to reschedule and repeat the exam with proper preparation.

INSTRUCTIONS: You may eat and drink anything until midnight the night before the examination. You MAY NOT have anything by mouth after midnight until the test has been completed.  You should also abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages for 24 hours before the test.

When the exam has been completed, you may return to a normal diet immediately. If your doctor has restricted your diet, please continue those restrictions until you have discussed your x-ray exam with your physician. He/she may change those restrictions following your Small Bowel examination.

You may contact the Radiology Department at 333-2752 from 8am until 5pm Monday through Friday with any questions or to request an appointment date change.

APPOINTMENT DATE:________________ APPOINTMENT TIME:__________

Please bring some reading material and be prepared to be in the Radiology Department for an extended period. We cannot stop the exam and restart it later. You must remain until the exam is complete.

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