What is the white liquid consumed for a gastric X-ray examination?

Under normal circumstances, a gastric X-ray examination refers to a barium meal radiography. During this procedure, the white liquid consumed is barium sulfate contrast agent. The detailed explanation is as follows:

Barium meal radiography is one of the gastrointestinal examination methods, used to detect pathological changes in the stomach, small intestine, and appendix regions, and serves as an auxiliary diagnostic tool for conditions such as gastric ulcers, localized inflammation, and intestinal adhesions. The barium contrast contains a certain concentration of hydrochloric acid, making it resistant to breakdown by gastric acid. After administration, it can adhere to the surface of the gastric wall, thereby increasing local density and facilitating imaging. If there is damage on the gastrointestinal mucosal surface, the barium agent will fail to adhere, which helps visualize the affected areas. Before the examination, patients are required to ingest a certain amount of barium contrast and repeatedly change body positions to promote even coating of the contrast within the digestive tract. During imaging, patients are usually placed in a supine position to facilitate the physician's operation. Depending on the specific area being examined, the amount of barium contrast may be appropriately increased.

It is recommended that patients follow a light diet before the examination to avoid interference from intestinal contents with visualization. After the examination, attention should be paid to bowel movements to ensure complete elimination of the ingested barium contrast from the body.