How long does a barium swallow x-ray take?

Minutes: Barium swallow evaluates the esophagus primarily, can take a few minutes. Can take longer to develop films and evaluate by the md barium meal (upper GI series), swallow more barium, evaluates the esophagus, stomach, upper small bowel; takes about an hour. Ugi small bowel follow through (ugisbft) looks at the esophagus, stomach and rest of small bowel-can take up to several hours.

About 1 hour: It can take an hour.

About 15 minutes.: If patient cooperative the usual time is about fifteen minutes