Barium sulfate suspension  From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search  Barium sulfate suspension is barium
sulfate powder turned into a liquid form by suspending it in a
quick-flowing drink to aid in CT scans of the gastrointestinal
region.   Barium sulfate suspensions are provided by a
radiologist or radiographic technologist in advance of, or
during a CT scan or fluoroscopic study to allow for better
computer tomography of the gastrointestinal tract. The patient
is instructed to take nothing by mouth, which means to abstain
from eating and drinking (fasting), with the exception of
drinking the barium sulfate suspension. The amount of time for
this fast may vary, depending on the instructions given by the
imaging facility and the area of the body to be scanned, but
generally lasts for several hours prior to the scan. The patient
generally skips one meal, along with abstaining from all
liquids, clear or otherwise, during this time.  Consumption of
the barium sulfate suspension begins 90