Barium & Cardiac Series / Studies

Question 1

Explain the cardiac series with barium for a PA chest x-ray

Answer 1

• used to outline the posterior heart and aorta
• barium used is thicker than barium used in stomach so that the contrast medium descends slowly and sticks to walls of esophagus
• patient holds the barium until time of exposure
• patient takes a deep breath and swallows
• exposure is made when patient swallows

Question 2

Explain the cardiac studies with barium for a lateral chest x-ray

Answer 2

• left lateral is used
• barium used is thicker than the one used for stomach
• outlines heart and aorta
• patient holds barium in mouth until time of exposure
• patient takes a deep breath and swallows barium
• exposure is made at this time

Question 3

For a PA LAO chest x-ray cardiac series, what is the oblique position of the patient?

Answer 3

55 - 60 degrees oblique

Question 4

Explain the barium studies for a PA LAO AND RAO chest x-ray

Answer 4

• RAO and LAO are routinely used
• barium used is thicker than the one used for stomach
• outlines heart and aorta
• patient holds barium in mouth until time of exposure
• patient takes a deep breath and swallows barium
• exposure is made at this time

Question 5

How is the patient rotated in a LAO or RAO position to study pulmonary diseases? Why?

Answer 5

• 10 to 20 degrees oblique
• displays the lower lobe from behind the hilum, the medial part of the right middle lobe, or lingula of the left upper lobe free from the hilum