Barium sulfate was first isolated in 1808 by English chemist Humphry Davy. It is a soft, metallic element normally found in nature as barium carbonate or barium sulfate. Barium sulfate was first used for medical imaging in 1910 in Germany. It appears as a fine white powder and is insoluble in water. Barium sulfate examinations are used to image the gastrointestinal tract. Single and double contrast techniques are used to image different parts of the stomach and duodenum. Advantages and disadvantages of each technique are provided. Indications for barium examinations include pain, diarrhea, anemia, partial obstruction, malabsorption and abdominal masses.

1. Dr.Yash Kumar Achantani
OSR

7. • First isolated by English chemist Sir Humphry Davy
in 1808
• Davy also discovered five other new elements:
sodium, potassium, strontium, calcium, magnesium.
• Barium is a soft, metallic element, normally
present in nature as
• Barium carbonate BaCO3 (whiterite) or
• Barium sulphate
BaSO4 (barytine)
Who discovered Barium ?
What is Barium?

8. When was Barium Sulfate first used ?
Bachem and Gunther, in Germany, first used barium sulfate in
1910, and this has remained the agent of choice ever since.
The compounds and the metal are not expensive.
Barium metal (99.7 + % pure) costs about $0.5/gm.

10. Physical Properties
1. Appearance: Fine, white powder
2. Form : Crystals or powder
3. Color :White or yellowish
4. Odor: Odorless
5. Taste:Tasteless
6. Solubility: Insoluble in water. (2.4 mg/L at 25˚C)
7. Density: 4.5 g/cm³
8. Specific Gravity: 4.5 @ 15 (59F)
9. Melting Point: 1580C (2876F)
10.Boiling Point: 1600C (2912F) Decomposes

11. Chemical Properties
1.Atomic Number: 56
2.Average Atomic Mass: 137.327
3.Molar Mass: 233.3896 g
4.Percent Composition :Ba 58.840 % S 13.738 % O 27.420 %
5.pH: 5.3
6.Used as a suspension of two phases
A dispersed phase of barium sulphate particles and
water-soluble excipients used to produce suspension
7.It is decomposed by water or alcohol

16. Paste:-
• Paste may be made into suspension by adding water
• They are mainly designed for studies of oesophagus and rectum
• Most pastes are thick containing more than 100% barium sulfate
(w/v)

17. • Powder made into suspension by adding water
• They contain barium sulphate and excipients
• 2 main families of barium powder form
• Upper GIT 81-98% w/w
• Colon 92-99% w/w
• High-density (HD) contain up to 250% w/v ba for DC examination
of stomach

18. Suspensions:-
• Most widely used preparations, they are ready
• Adding water might be added within some limits to obtain a
different and lower concentration of barium sulphate
• Contain 13 to 210% Ba (w/v)
• Lower-density suspensions forGIT CT 0.1 to 5% w/v

19. • SETTLING
Carboxy methyl cellulose to prevent settling. Rate of settling
should less than 1/10 at the end of 3 hours.

30. Barium swallow – Right anterior oblique view chest x-ray – showing
normal indentations of oesophagus by aorta , left bronchus and left
atrium

39. Single Contrast Double contrast
Fundus Supine Erect with two views 90
degree to each other or
Prone right side down.
Body Erect or Prone Supine with 60 degree
head end elevation.
Antrum and Pylorus Prone right side down Supine right side up
D1 and C loop of
duodenum
Prone right side down Supine right side up
D4 of duodenum Supine Prone right side down.

42. Advantages Disadvantages
Single Contrast • Optimal for pt. who are
immobile or unable to take
gas forming tablets.
• Pylorospasm, fistulae and
enlarged gastric rugae are
best seen.
• Filling defects due to large
masses in pyloric and
duodenal region are more
easily identifiable.
• Procedure of choice to
examine pt. with suspected
gastric or duodenal
obstruction.
• Lack of sensitivity in detecting
small erosion/ linear ulceration
, superficial gastric carcinomas
and subtle mucosal
abnormalities.
Double Contrast • Highly accurate method of
detecting abnormalities
following gastric surgery, bile
reflux gastritis, marginal
ulceration, recurrent
carcinomas and abnormalities
of efferent loop.
• Probably misses some polyps,
ulcers erosions and superficial
carcinoma.

47. Indications
1. Pain
2. Diarrhoea
3. Anaemia/gastrointestinal bleeding
4. Partial obstruction
5. Malabsorption
6. Abdominal mass.

59. Normal jejunum in Enteroclysis