2-3.
THE STOMACH AND DUODENUM (UPPER GI SERIES)
The position of the stomach varies with the amount of contents, type of body
habitus, mutual pressure of adjacent organs, pathological condition, respiration,
emotional state, and whether the subject is in the erect or recumbent position. The
position of the duodenum varies in much the same way.
a. Preparation of Patient and Scheduling. Except in emergencies or under
very unusual circumstances, examinations of the stomach and intestines should be
scheduled. All appointments (including cancellations) should be logged in an
appointment book or entered in an appropriate calendar chart.
(1) Inpatients. The appointment for the examination is made upon receipt of
a properly prepared request form from the ward (also called nursing unit). Ward
personnel generally prepare the patient for the examination, usually as prescribed by
the operating procedures of the installation. In general, the preparation of ingredients is
as follows.
The patient will not be given a laxative within 24 hours of the
(a)
examination.
(b) The patient should have nothing by mouth for a period of 8-12
hours prior to the time of the examination.
(c) The patient is not to drink or eat anything other than the barium
mixture he receives in the x-ray department.
(2) Outpatients. The procedure is the same as that for inpatients, except
that the outpatient is carefully instructed by the x-ray department as to what he must do
to prepare for the examination (or is given a prepared form containing the necessary
information).
b. Preliminary Procedure.
(1) A routine setup of the fluoroscopic and radiographic facilities should be
accomplished.
(a) Single-unit setup. In this plan, a single x-ray unit (radiographic-
fluoroscopic) is used for both phases of the examination. When fluoroscopy is
completed, the unit is "switched over" and radiography is done.
(b) Single-unit, supplemented setup. The operational aspect of this
plan is similar to the single-unit setup, except that the radiography is done on a separate
x-ray unit located in another room (usually by another x-ray specialist). This plan
permits the continuation of fluoroscopy with the same unit from one examination to the
next and also expedites the handling and processing of exposed films.
MD0959
2-9