How should a patient prepare for an upper gastrointestinal series?
• Nothing to eat or drink (not even water) after midnight the night before the examination, and the morning of the examination. What is an X-ray? An X-ray is a painless diagnostic procedure that uses a low dose of radiation to produce images of the inner anatomy of the body. The patient is positioned to best visualize the area of the body being imaged, and multiple views may be taken. A lead apron may be draped over part of the patients body in order to shield it from unnecessary radiation. The test is performed by a state licensed, ARRT (American Registry of Radiological Technologists) certified technologist. A physician will order an X-ray exam for health screening, to diagnose a fracture, or disease. How should a patient prepare for an X-ray? • No preparation.
