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Fluoroscopy

Please follow faithfully the instructions shown below. Failure to comply with them may result in poorly prepared bowel and a suboptimal examination. If you cannot follow the preparation for your exam or have any questions, please call our office.

Esophagrams, Gastrointestinal (GI) Series, and Small Bowel Series

  • Nothing to eat or drink after midnight until the examination is over.
  • To eliminate the barium following a GI Series and avoid constipation, drink plenty of water as soon as you return home.

Barium Enema

Day Before Exam

  • 12-Noon - LUNCH – Eat only the following:
    • 1 cup of bouillon soup with crackers.
    • 1 chicken or turkey white meat sandwich (no butter, mayonnaise, lettuce, or other additive).
    • 1/2 glass of clear apple juice or clear grape juice.
    • 1 serving of plain Jell-O (no cream, fruit or other additive).
    • 1 glass of skimmed or non-fat dry milk.
  • 1:00 PM
    • Drink at least one full glass or more of water.
  • 3:00 PM
    • Drink at least one full glass or more of water.
  • 5:00 PM - SUPPER – Eat only the following:
    • 1 cup of bouillon soup.
    • 1 glass of clear apple juice or clear grape juice.
    • 1 serving plain Jell-O (no cream, fruit, or other additive).
  • 7:00 PM
    • Drink at least one full glass or more of water.
  • 8:00 PM
    • Drink one 10 ounce bottle of MAGNESIUM CITRATE (cold)
  • 10:00 PM - SUPPER – Eat only the following:
    • Take three (3) DULCOLAX tablets with at least one full glass or more of water.
    • DO NOT CRUSH OR CHEW TABLETS. SWALLOW THEM WHOLE. DO NOT TAKE TABLETS WITHIN ONE HOUR OF ANTACIDS OR MILK
  • 12:00 Midnight
    • Drink at least one full glass or more of water.

Day of Exam

  • 7:00 AM
    • Drink one and one-half glasses or more of water.
  • 7:05 AM
    • Use one (1) DULCOLAX rectal suppository as follows:
    • Unwrap suppository
    • Lie on left side, with right thigh raised.
    • Insert suppository into the rectum, pointed end first, as high as possible. Make sure that some part of the suppository touches the wall of the rectum.
    • Close thighs to aid in retaining suppository.
    • Retain suppository for at least 15-20 minutes, if possible. A bowel evacuation usually occurs in 15 minutes to one hour.
    • If you are incapacitated and need assistance, be sure that a bedpan, diaper, commode, or help to the bathroom is available.

Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP)

  • Follow same instructions as for barium enema above but stop after taking the DULCOLAX Tablets at 10 PM.
  • No food after midnight prior to X-ray. We want you to drink the morning of your X-ray water or a beverage without milk or sugar. (8-10 ounces)

NOTE: if you are a diabetic or have severe renal disease, dehydration should be avoided. Please consult your physician before going through this procedure.

Late Patients: Please report to Diagnostic Imaging Services, 15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time. Patients who are more than 15 minutes late may be asked to reschedule.

Clothing: Please, if possible, wear comfortable clothing with no metal snaps, zippers, or buttons. Sport bras with no metal are acceptable. Sweat suits are ideal.

Your Doctor’s office will receive a written report as quickly as possible. To obtain your results, please follow the instructions you were given by the Doctor who ordered your test.

Unaccompanied children: Please do not bring children with you unless they are the patient scheduled for the exam. If adult patients must bring children with them, we do ask that another adult be present to supervise.

If you have any questions, you may reach us at 301.714.4200.