A barium X-ray of the stomach is a live study. You drink a contrast suspension, and the radiologist watches on screen as it passes down the oesophagus, fills the stomach and moves into the duodenum. Barium is not absorbed. It leaves the body naturally. At Oberig Clinic the study is done in the X-ray room of the Diagnostic Department, and you get the report within 24 hours.
What the X-ray shows
The method shows what gastroscopy cannot: the organ at work. The radiologist sees how the oesophagus contracts, checks for narrowing, a hiatus hernia and reflux. In the stomach they assess the shape, the lining pattern, peristalsis, how fast it empties, ulcer craters and deformities after surgery. Key moments are captured on images, so later studies can be compared with them. Your doctor orders the study for trouble swallowing, heartburn, chest pain, a feeling of fullness after meals, suspected stenosis, or to check the stomach after an operation.
How to prepare
- the study is done in the morning on an empty stomach,
- the evening before, have a light dinner no later than 18:00,
- do not eat or drink in the morning. Take your tablets with a minimum of water,
- if the stomach outlet is narrowed, you may need a gastric lavage the day before. Your gastroenterologist or the radiologist decides,
- bring previous results: gastroscopy, abdominal ultrasound, discharge summaries.
What happens during the study
You drink a glass of barium while standing in front of the machine, and the radiologist follows the contrast at once. Then you turn, lie on your back, on your side, and sometimes hold your breath. The whole thing takes 20-30 minutes. It does not hurt. You can eat afterwards. Drink more water to clear the barium faster: your stool will be pale for 1-2 days, and that is normal.
Frequently asked questions
Barium X-ray or gastroscopy: which is better?
They answer different questions. Gastroscopy shows the lining up close and allows a biopsy. The X-ray shows motility and patency. A gastroenterologist often orders both.
Is there a radiation dose?
Yes, a small one. That is why pregnant women are not examined and children need a doctor's referral.
Price and why choose Oberig Clinic
| Study | Price |
|---|
| X-ray of the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum (with barium) | UAH 3,245 |
| X-ray of the oesophagus, adults | UAH 2,985 |
| X-ray of the oesophagus, children | UAH 2,875 |
| Barium follow-through of the gastrointestinal tract | UAH 3,295 |
Prices are taken from the clinic price list as of 01.10.2026. They may change, so please confirm the current price with the contact centre. The study is read by the radiologists of the Diagnostic Department led by Taras Matsiievskyi, and you can discuss the result with a gastroenterologist at the clinic the same day. Address: Kyiv, 3 Zoologichna St. Book online at https://my.oberig.ua/ua/appointment/ or call +38 044 521 30 03.
