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 within the esophagus usually found in persons that have this complaint. They include, for example, cancerous growths. Cancers tend to grow into the lumen of the esophagus and obliterate it. The effect of this is worsening dysphagia over time. Another common cause of this problem is esophagitis, the result of injury to the mucosal surface. This may follow ingestion of acids or alkalis or may suggest the presence of an infection.
Some preparation is usually needed for an individual scheduled to undergo the test. Among the things to be done is to reduce the amount of fiber in the meals that are eaten two to three days prior to the test. The other important thing that one should remember is that they should have an overnight fast on the night of the test. This means that the last meal should be before midnight so that the digestive tract is empty by morning.
The test involves exposure to x-rays. You will be asked to drink a cup of barium sulfate suspension, a radiopaque solution. What this means is that the rays do not penetrate it. When it fills the lumen of the esophagus and the rays are turned on, a corresponding shadow is formed on the film. The outline of this shadow is what provides the important information. An ulcer appears as a projection from the image and a tumor appears as a depression.
The study is generally considered safe. Potential risks mainly relate to the barium sulfate that is used. Anaphylaxis (allergic reaction) is one of the possibilities but is a very rare occurrence. It may be seen in persons that have been sensitized against this suspension. Since it is difficult to predict, patients should first be asked to ingest a small amount and observed before drinking the entire cupful. Another possible side effect is constipation.
Regular meals can be restarted as soon as the test has been completed. Due to the underlying risk of constipation, it is customary for some doctors to prescribe a light diet for a couple of diet. You may notice chalky white staining of your stool for a few days. This should not be a cause for worry as it is simply the effect of barium sulfate being released by the body.
The management approach is greatly dependent on the findings of the doctor and the report that they receive from the radiologist. For some of the cases, there may be no need to intervene as they are self-limiting. For others, additional investigations may be needed. Such will include, for example endoscopy and even CT scan and MRI imaging. Specialist doctors such as otolaryngologists, neurologist and gastroenterologists will most likely be consulted.
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 within the esophagus usually found in persons that have this complaint. They include, for example, cancerous growths. Cancers tend to grow into the lumen of the esophagus and obliterate it. The effect of this is worsening dysphagia over time. Another common cause of this problem is esophagitis, the result of injury to the mucosal surface. This may follow ingestion of acids or alkalis or may suggest the presence of an infection.
Some preparation is usually needed for an individual scheduled to undergo the test. Among the things to be done is to reduce the amount of fiber in the meals that are eaten two to three days prior to the test. The other important thing that one should remember is that they should have an overnight fast on the night of the test. This means that the last meal should be before midnight so that the digestive tract is empty by morning.
The test involves exposure to x-rays. You will be asked to drink a cup of barium sulfate suspension, a radiopaque solution. What this means is that the rays do not penetrate it. When it fills the lumen of the esophagus and the rays are turned on, a corresponding shadow is formed on the film. The outline of this shadow is what provides the important information. An ulcer appears as a projection from the image and a tumor appears as a depression.
The study is generally considered safe. Potential risks mainly relate to the barium sulfate that is used. Anaphylaxis (allergic reaction) is one of the possibilities but is a very rare occurrence. It may be seen in persons that have been sensitized against this suspension. Since it is difficult to predict, patients should first be asked to ingest a small amount and observed before drinking the entire cupful. Another possible side effect is constipation.
Regular meals can be restarted as soon as the test has been completed. Due to the underlying risk of constipation, it is customary for some doctors to prescribe a light diet for a couple of diet. You may notice chalky white staining of your stool for a few days. This should not be a cause for worry as it is simply the effect of barium sulfate being released by the body.
The management approach is greatly dependent on the findings of the doctor and the report that they receive from the radiologist. For some of the cases, there may be no need to intervene as they are self-limiting. For others, additional investigations may be needed. Such will include, for example endoscopy and even CT scan and MRI imaging. Specialist doctors such as otolaryngologists, neurologist and gastroenterologists will most likely be consulted.
About the Author:
When you are looking for the facts about a swallow study for dysphagia, come to our web pages online here today. Further details are available at http://www.swallowstudy.com now.