<s>
Barium	B-Application
sulfate	I-Application
suspension	I-Application
,	O
often	O
simply	O
called	O
barium	O
,	O
is	O
a	O
contrast	B-Algorithm
agent	I-Algorithm
used	O
during	O
X-rays	B-Library
.	O
</s>
<s>
Specifically	O
it	O
is	O
used	O
to	O
improve	O
visualization	O
of	O
the	O
gastrointestinal	O
tract	O
(	O
esophagus	O
,	O
stomach	O
,	O
intestines	O
)	O
on	O
plain	O
X-ray	B-Library
or	O
computed	O
tomography	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
use	O
of	O
barium	O
during	O
pregnancy	O
is	O
safe	O
for	O
the	O
baby	O
;	O
however	O
,	O
X-rays	B-Library
may	O
result	O
in	O
harm	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Barium	B-Application
sulfate	I-Application
suspension	I-Application
is	O
typically	O
made	O
by	O
mixing	O
barium	O
sulfate	O
powder	O
with	O
water	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
a	O
non-iodinated	B-Application
contrast	I-Application
media	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Barium	B-Application
sulfate	I-Application
suspensions	I-Application
are	O
provided	O
by	O
a	O
radiologist	O
or	O
radiographer	O
in	O
advance	O
of	O
,	O
or	O
during	O
a	O
CT	O
scan	O
or	O
fluoroscopic	O
study	O
to	O
allow	O
for	O
better	O
visualization	O
of	O
the	O
gastrointestinal	O
tract	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
in	O
upper	O
or	O
lower	O
gastrointestinal	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
upper	O
gastrointestinal	O
series	O
,	O
the	O
patient	O
is	O
instructed	O
to	O
take	O
nothing	O
by	O
mouth	O
,	O
which	O
means	O
to	O
abstain	O
from	O
eating	O
and	O
drinking	O
(	O
fasting	O
)	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
exception	O
of	O
drinking	O
the	O
barium	B-Application
sulfate	I-Application
suspension	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Consumption	O
of	O
the	O
barium	B-Application
sulfate	I-Application
suspension	I-Application
begins	O
90	O
minutes	O
to	O
two	O
hours	O
prior	O
to	O
the	O
CT/Fluoroscopic	O
scan	O
,	O
as	O
instructed	O
in	O
the	O
patient	O
education	O
provided	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
patients	O
with	O
allergies	O
or	O
sensitive	O
stomachs	O
may	O
choose	O
to	O
discuss	O
alternatives	O
to	O
the	O
barium	B-Application
sulfate	I-Application
suspension	I-Application
with	O
their	O
radiologist	O
,	O
but	O
most	O
patients	O
find	O
the	O
common	O
side	O
effects	O
more	O
of	O
an	O
annoyance	O
than	O
a	O
serious	O
problem	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Oral	O
barium	B-Application
sulfate	I-Application
suspensions	I-Application
are	O
sometimes	O
described	O
as	O
having	O
the	O
consistency	O
of	O
a	O
very	O
thick	O
glass	O
of	O
milk	O
,	O
or	O
a	O
very	O
thin	O
milkshake	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Because	O
of	O
the	O
ease	O
of	O
the	O
actual	O
test	O
,	O
the	O
paced	O
two-hour	O
consumption	O
of	O
the	O
barium	B-Application
sulfate	I-Application
suspension	I-Application
is	O
often	O
considered	O
the	O
worst	O
part	O
of	O
a	O
CT	O
scan	O
.	O
</s>
