Fluoroscopy
AVAILABLE AT: Mediclinic Bloemfontein
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“Real-Time X-rays”
Fluoroscopy is often called “the live TV of X-rays” because it shows moving images—South African radiographers sometimes jokingly refer to it as “Netflix for bones and bowels.”
Instant Results
One of the coolest parts of fluoroscopy in SA?
You see problems immediately—reflux, aspiration, blockages, foreign bodies, and more.
Barium Swallow? Patients often call it “the chocolate drink”
Despite tasting nothing like chocolate, many South African patients still ask, “Is this the chocolate stuff?”
Every radiographer in SA has heard this at least once.
The Most Asked Question in SA Fluoro Rooms:
“Must I take off all my clothes?”
Answer: usually not! Most exams just need removal of metal items.
What is a Fluoroscopy?
Fluoroscopy is a low dose X-ray procedure that produces real-time pictures on a screen instead of taking still individual pictures (an X-ray movie). This allows the radiologist to observe how an organ performs its normal function (e.g., how the oesophagus works during swallowing).
Fluoroscopy investigations are most commonly used to evaluate the gastrointestinal (oesophagus, stomach, small and large bowel) and genitourinary (uterus, fallopian tubes, kidneys, bladder and urethra) tracts. It is also used to guide minimally invasive interventional procedures.
Either barium or iodinated contrast media is used to visualize the organs during an examination. The contrast media coats the internal lining of the organs, allowing us to see their walls. Without contrast media these organs would barely be visible on X-ray imaging.
Women who are pregnant must alert their doctor and the radiographer if they are being scheduled for a screening examination.
If you have a history of allergies or previous reactions to iodinated contrast, please inform your doctor and the radiographer before having a screening examination.