Upper Gastrointestinal (UGI) Series

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 centre 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, tumours, 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.

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: January 23, 2007
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology
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