Upper Gastrointestinal (UGI) Series: Why It Is Done
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Why It Is Done
An upper gastrointestinal (UGI) series is done to:
- Find the cause of gastrointestinal symptoms, such as difficulty swallowing, vomiting, burping up food, belly pain (including a burning or gnawing pain in the center of the stomach), or indigestion. These may be caused by conditions such as hiatal hernia.
- Find narrow spots (strictures) in the upper intestinal tract, ulcers, tumors, polyps, or pyloric stenosis.
- Find inflamed areas of the intestine, malabsorption syndrome, or problems with the squeezing motion that moves food through the intestines (motility disorders).
- Find swallowed objects.
Generally, a UGI series is not used if you do not have symptoms of a gastrointestinal problem. A UGI series is done most often for people who have:
- A hard time swallowing.
- A history of Crohn's disease.
- A possible blocked intestine (obstruction).
- Belly pain that is relieved or gets worse while eating.
- Severe heartburn or heartburn that occurs often.
| Last updated: | November 04, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Monica Rhodes |
| Reviewed By: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Peter J. Kahrilas, MD - Gastroenterology |
| Editors: | Maria Essig, Tracy Landauer |
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