Video Fluoroscopy

A Video Fluoroscopy (also known as a video swallow) is used to look at how your child’s swallows. Your child will eat and drink while an x-ray camera takes video images of their mouth and throat.

If you are unable to keep this appointment, please inform the department as soon as possible.

If your child is likely to need a hoist during the appointment, please telephone us so that we can make sure this is ready for you.

If you are pregnant or think you could be pregnant, please let us know. The x-rays used in the fluoroscopy scan could harm your unborn baby, so we would advise bringing another adult to come into the scanning room with your child.

If your child is 12 years old or older and of childbearing potential, we will ask them about their periods and any possibility that they could be pregnant; this is a legal obligation that we must ask.

• Your Speech and Language Therapist may suggest you bring a certain food or drink but if they have not, please bring a small amount of your child’s usual food and drink.
• If your child finds a particular food or drink more difficult, please bring this with you.
• If your child has a favourite cup, beaker, or spoon please bring this with you to use in the test.
• You may also wish to bring some spare clothes in case any of spills.
• It can help if your child has a favourite toy to hold to comfort them during the study. Electronic devices such as iPads are welcome.

Your child does not need to stop eating before the x-ray. However, because your child will need to eat or drink, it is good if they are hungry and thirsty when they have the x-ray.

Please arrive at the Radiology department at the time stated in your child’s appointment letter.

Please dress your child in clothing which does not contain metal, for example zips and buttons.

Your child will sit in an x-ray chair or their own wheelchair. An x-ray camera will be at their side. The camera will not touch them. We will take a series of x-rays while your child eats and drinks. You and your child will be able to see the pictures on a screen.

The food and drink will be mixed with barium to make it show up on the x-ray. Barium is also known as “contrast”. It is slightly chalky and makes food and drink look white. It has a slightly sweet taste and most children are happy to eat and drink with the barium mixed in.

We ask that a parent or an adult that knows your child comes into the x-ray room to help them eat and drink. Everyone inside the examination room will need to wear a lead apron.

The Speech and Language Therapist will review the recordings and meet with you straight after the x-ray to discuss the findings.

If you are not scheduled for any more appointments that day, you will be free to go home.

Your child should take plenty of fluids for the next couple of days to flush the barium out of their digestive system and prevent any constipation.

The contrast will pass naturally though the digestive system. Your child’s poo may appear white. This is normal and should clear in a few days.

The barium will not interfere with any medicines your child is taking.

It may cause some constipation in the days that follow. Please ensure your child has plenty of fluids.

It is our legal duty to tell you about the potential risk of having a fluoroscopy study. The studies are only ever requested if the benefits outweigh the risks involved. The study does use radiation, but the dose is kept as low as possible. This is because the radiographers are specially trained to obtain the best quality pictures while using the lowest amount of radiation possible.

Anyone staying in the room with your child will need to wear a lead apron – this works as a barrier to radiation. We advise that anyone who is pregnant or thinks they might be pregnant should not go into the room.

Other types of imaging studies, such as CT or Ultrasound, can visualise the digestive system. However, such tests will not provide enough information to assess the function of the digestive system. This will be essential to plan your child’s treatment.

If you have any questions, please telephone the Radiology department on 020 7829 8615, extension 0361.

We take all feedback very seriously and want to hear about your experiences. Your feedback helps us to understand what we are doing well but importantly how we can improve. We will give you a feedback card but if you haven’t received one, please ask a member of staff. You can also provide feedback via our website.

We know we do not always get things right. As explained above, please do raise any queries or issues with the ward staff in the first instance. We want to help and often we are able to resolve things quickly.

Another way of raising a concern is to contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (Pals). The Pals team can offer independent advice and support, working with you to sort out a problem along with members of staff.

They are based in the main reception area and open from Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm. You can also call them on020 7829 7862or email pals@gosh.nhs.uk.

The Complaints team are also available if you want to make a complaint. To contact them phone 020 7813 8402 or email complaints@gosh.nhs.uk.

If you require a copy of this information in a different format or language, please contact the Pals team for assistance.