Dysphagia is the medical term for difficulty in swallowing. Different degrees of this problem exist. The problem may be encountered with the swallowing of solids only or with all types of foods including liquids. Regardless of severity, it is important that investigations are carried out to determine what the cause is. The swallow study for dysphagia is one of the most important preliminary investigations for an individual with this kind of problem.
The decision as to whether or not the study is needed is determined by both the medical history and the findings on physical examination by your doctor. Some of the things that the doctor will be seeking to establish is the duration of your illness, whether it has been getting worse over time and whether it involves solids only or liquids as well. It is common for the difficulty in swallowing to be associated with pain as well.
Lesions found within the esophagus are a common cause of this problem. Cancerous growths and polyps tend to obliterate the lumen and cause progressive dysphagia as the diameter is gradually reduced. Inflammatory conditions caused by ingestion of alkalis, acids or infections result in stricture formation which subsequently affects swallowing. Another possible cause is the presence of varices (enlarged veins). There may or may not be associated pain in all of these instances.
Before you have the test, your doctor will take you through some preparation. This is fairly simple and is carried out by the patient under instructions. The most important aspect of this process is to reduce the fiber content in the food for two to three days before the test is conducted. The next thing that you need to do is to undergo an overnight fast (the last meal should be taken before midnight on the morning of the test).
Since the test involves exposure to X-rays, it is conducted in the radiology department. When you get to the department, you will be asked to drink a cupful of a suspension containing barium sulfate. This compound is radiopaque. This means that it does not permit the entry of X-rays. The rays will cast a shadow of the compound as it passes down your esophagus and any lesions will be projected onto the film.
The complications associated with this test are very few and rarely encountered. Worth mentioning is the possibility of allergy that may lead to anaphylaxis is previously sensitized individuals. Prior testing with barium sulfate helps to avoid this complication. Another complication that may arise is constipation but this too is rare and when it occurs it usually resolves without any form of intervention.
You can resume your regular diet as soon as you leave the X-ray room. Light diet may be recommended in cases where a fear for constipation exists. Do not be worried if you notice your stool taking a chalky white color. This is the barium sulfate being released by the digestive tract. Adequate hydration helps expedite the excretion process.
The management of your condition will be determined by the findings of your doctor as well as the report from the radiologist. It is not uncommon for the results to be normal. Your doctor may recommend additional tests (such as endoscopy) and also refer you to specialists such as speech and language therapists, neurologists, gastroenterologists and otolaryngologists among others.
The decision as to whether or not the study is needed is determined by both the medical history and the findings on physical examination by your doctor. Some of the things that the doctor will be seeking to establish is the duration of your illness, whether it has been getting worse over time and whether it involves solids only or liquids as well. It is common for the difficulty in swallowing to be associated with pain as well.
Lesions found within the esophagus are a common cause of this problem. Cancerous growths and polyps tend to obliterate the lumen and cause progressive dysphagia as the diameter is gradually reduced. Inflammatory conditions caused by ingestion of alkalis, acids or infections result in stricture formation which subsequently affects swallowing. Another possible cause is the presence of varices (enlarged veins). There may or may not be associated pain in all of these instances.
Before you have the test, your doctor will take you through some preparation. This is fairly simple and is carried out by the patient under instructions. The most important aspect of this process is to reduce the fiber content in the food for two to three days before the test is conducted. The next thing that you need to do is to undergo an overnight fast (the last meal should be taken before midnight on the morning of the test).
Since the test involves exposure to X-rays, it is conducted in the radiology department. When you get to the department, you will be asked to drink a cupful of a suspension containing barium sulfate. This compound is radiopaque. This means that it does not permit the entry of X-rays. The rays will cast a shadow of the compound as it passes down your esophagus and any lesions will be projected onto the film.
The complications associated with this test are very few and rarely encountered. Worth mentioning is the possibility of allergy that may lead to anaphylaxis is previously sensitized individuals. Prior testing with barium sulfate helps to avoid this complication. Another complication that may arise is constipation but this too is rare and when it occurs it usually resolves without any form of intervention.
You can resume your regular diet as soon as you leave the X-ray room. Light diet may be recommended in cases where a fear for constipation exists. Do not be worried if you notice your stool taking a chalky white color. This is the barium sulfate being released by the digestive tract. Adequate hydration helps expedite the excretion process.
The management of your condition will be determined by the findings of your doctor as well as the report from the radiologist. It is not uncommon for the results to be normal. Your doctor may recommend additional tests (such as endoscopy) and also refer you to specialists such as speech and language therapists, neurologists, gastroenterologists and otolaryngologists among others.
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