Welcome to Upper GI Surgery, we hope this website is a useful resource for your Upper Gastrointestinal (Upper GI) or bariatric surgery needs. We have been established over 17 years in Sydney with our main practice located in Kogarah, and additional clinics in Wollongong, the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney & Orange NSW. We are a friendly and dedicated team comprised of specialist surgeons. An upper GI (UGI) series is like an X-ray movie of your digestive tract. But instead of eating popcorn, you drink a thick liquid called barium. Find out more about this test. An upper gastrointestinal series, also called a barium meal, is a series of radiographs used to examine the gastrointestinal tract for abnormalities. A contrast medium, usually a radiocontrast agent such as barium sulfate mixed with water, is ingested or instilled into the gastrointestinal tract, and X-rays are used to create radiographs of the regions of interest. Upper GI tract radiography is an extremely safe, noninvasive procedure. The results of the upper GI series usually lead to accurate evaluation of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum. Because barium is not absorbed into the blood, allergic reactions are extremely rare. No radiation stays in your body after an x-ray exam. X-rays usually have no side effects in the typical diagnostic range for. An upper endoscopy can be used to determine the cause of heartburn and is often performed as an outpatient procedure. Upper endoscopy uses a thin scope with a light and camera at its tip to look. Upper GI endoscopy is a procedure in which a doctor uses an endoscope—a flexible tube with a camera—to see the lining of your upper GI tract. A gastroenterologist , surgeon, or other trained health care professional performs the procedure, most often while you receive light sedation to help you relax. Upper GI bleeds occur when part of the upper digestive tract becomes injured or inflamed. A GI bleed is a symptom of another disorder rather than a health condition in itself. An upper GI series is a procedure in which a doctor uses x-rays, fluoroscopy, and a chalky liquid called barium to view your upper GI tract. The barium will make your upper GI tract more visible on an x-ray. The two types of upper GI series are. a standard barium upper GI series, which uses only barium An upper GI and small bowel series is done in a health care office or hospital radiology department. You may get an injection of a medicine that slows muscle movement in the small intestine. This makes it easier to see the structures of your organs on the x-rays. Before the x-rays are taken, you must drink 16 to 20 ounces (480 to 600 milliliters) of a milkshake-like drink. The drink contains a. An upper GI series (barium swallow)is a test used to visualize the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. The test involves some exposure to radiation. To prepare, patients must not eat or drink for 4 to 8 hours before the test. A radiologist interprets the results of the test and informs the patient of the findings.