Where is fluoroscopy?
Fluoroscopy is located in the Radiology Department on Level 3, Main Outpatient Block.
What is fluoroscopy?
Fluoroscopy is a study of moving body structures—similar to an x-ray ‘movie’. The x-ray beam is passed through the body part being examined and is transmitted to a TV-like monitor, so that the body part and its movement can be visualised in ‘real time’.
Fluoroscopy may be used alone as a diagnostic procedure or with other diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. It may be done as part of an examination on either an outpatient or in patient basis.
Fluoroscopy is often used to observe the digestive tract using a contrast media, such as Barium or air, to enhance the image seen on the monitor.
Barium Meal/Swallow to examine the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract or Barium enema to examine the lower GI tract. Other uses of fluoroscopy include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Locating foreign bodies
- Image guided therapeutic injections into joints or the spine
- Cardiac catheterization
- Arthography- visualisation of a joint or joints
How long will it take?
This is a difficult question to answer as we are examining so many different parts of the body and we are often controlled by the speed of the patient’s body.
Can I eat and drink normally after the test?
Yes, following most examinations normal eating can be resumed, however, following a Barium test we encourage drinking more fluids for a couple of days.
When will I get the results?
Your referring doctor should get the results within two weeks.
Some of the Procedures performed
- Barium Swallows – looking at the oesophagus
- Barium Meals – looking at the stomach
- Barium Follow through – looking at the small bowel
- Barium Enema – looking at the large bowel
- Herniograms – looking for abdominal hernias
- Saliograms – looking at salivary glands
- Dacrocystograms – looking at the tear ducts
- Gastric Band adjustments
- Video Fluroscopy
Paediatric Studies
The department undertakes the following radiological investigations for babies and children:
- Plain X ray
- Dedicated x ray room in Paediatric A&E
- Special x rays with real time x ray imaging
- (Fluoroscopy) usually used to examine the oesophagus, stomach and small intestine or the urinary tract
- Ultrasound examinations
- Nuclear Medicine scans (Radio Isotope scans)
- CT scans
- MRI scans
- Proctograms
We work closely with our hospital paediatric medical and nursing colleagues and local GPs’ to ensure the delivery of a high quality, timely and friendly service.
We also have close working relationships with tertiary referral centres including St George’s Hospital, The Evelina Hospital, Guys & St Thomas’s, Great Ormond Street and the Atkinson Morley Unit at St George’s Hospital.
We have two Consultant Radiologists with special expertise in Paediatric Radiology, Dr Clare Bennett and Dr Susanna Davidson and several ultrasonographers and radiographers.
Injections are rarely required but if they are, arrangements are made with the paediatric ward for the use of anaesthetic skin cream and the insertion of cannulae.
Sedation is only required for occasional CT scans and this is arranged in conjunction with Oak Ward so that the child is cared for by the paediatric ward team.
MRI scans fairly often require a general anaesthetic because movement at any stage of the scan results in severely reduced quality of images.
A general anaesthetic is arranged by the referring Paediatrician in consultation with the scanning department and Specialist Consultant Anaesthetists. Admission to the ward as a day case is required.
We are not a dedicated Paediatric Radiology Department but we have a designated play area in main reception and children are welcomed and handled in as friendly and caring a way as possible to achieve satisfactory imaging. A baby change facility is available next to main reception
If you require specific information you are welcome to phone 01932 722506 and we will do our best to help.
Contact Information
Please make us aware if there is any chance you may be pregnant.
Fluoroscopy: Tel 01932 72000 Ext 2501
Information Leaflet
Barium Small Bowel Meal
A small bowel meal is a special x-ray designed to show your small intestine.
On arrival in the x-ray department you will be asked to drink a glass of barium, a white liquid much like a milkshake, which makes the intestine show up on x-rays.
Pictures of your stomach will be taken at intervals, usually every 45 minutes, until the whole of your small intestine has been demonstrated ... read more
Barium Swallow and Meal
One way of looking at the oesophagus (the tube which leads from the mouth to the stomach), the stomach and duodenum is to swallow white liquid called barium which temporarily coat the inner walls of these structures allowing them to be seen on x rays.
The procedure can be modified to look at the oesophagus only ... read more
Fluoroscopy
Fluoroscopy is also known as ‘screening’ in radiology departments.
It is a method of using a constant stream of X rays which can be turned on and off as required, to allow a Radiologist to view a changing image ... read more
Sialogram
A sialogram is an x-ray test using contrast (x-ray dye) to look in detail at the larger salivary glands (the parotid or submandibular). These glands help to keep your mouth moist by draining saliva into your mouth through small tubes called ducts. The salivary glands and the ducts can not be seen on ordinary x-rays so contrast is used to demonstrate them ... read more
