HomeAnswersInternal Medicineachalasia cardiaMy mother is suffering from blockage due to a barium solution overdose. Is it life-threatening?

Barium solution has caused a blockage in my mother's stomach. How serious is it?

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Answered by

Dr. Ramesh Kumar S

Medically reviewed by

iCliniq medical review team

Published At October 10, 2017
Reviewed AtSeptember 11, 2023

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

My mother started having internal bleeding two weeks back due to Pradaxa, which she was prescribed three weeks ago. In search of this internal bleed, my mother was asked to drink a gallon of bowel flushing solution. She drank two-thirds of the solution, but was told that she had not had enough to do the colonoscopy, so the test was put off till the next day. She was asked to drink another gallon of this solution. All the barium solution caused a blockage causing her to puff up, which went unnoticed when they performed a colonoscopy. They did not find any damage to her colon, so after determining that the bleed must have been in her small intestine, they attempted to do a barium follow, in which they found a blockage just outside her stomach. The barium has now been in her stomach for three days. How long can she go like this before it becomes a serious life threatening condition? The blockage was originally a dull pain and now has gone to a sharp pain and laboratory people are still just waiting for it to pass. At present, she is taking an intravenous antacid Norco 10 for pain and an antibiotic Cefalexin, Albuterol and Dulera for her bronchial issues.

Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar S

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

According to the details given by you, thebarium was unable to reach her stomach. So, most likely her condition is called achalasia cardia. Achalasia is a serious condition that affects your esophagus. The lower esophageal sphincter is a valve that closes off the esophagus from the stomach. If you have achalasia, your LES (lower esophageal sphincter) fails to open up during swallowing. This leads to a backup of food within your esophagus. I would suggest you get the following test done. High-resolution esophageal manometry ,Endoscopy.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Ramesh Kumar S

Dr. Ramesh Kumar S

Medical Gastroenterology

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