American Society of Radiologic Technologist (ASRT) Practice Exam

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How long does a small bowel series on a patient with normal intestinal motility typically take to complete?

10 minutes
30 minutes
2 hours
4 hours

The correct answer is: 2 hours

In a small bowel series, the timing for completion of the procedure can greatly depend on the patient's intestinal motility. For a patient with normal intestinal motility, the procedure is generally expected to take around 2 hours. This duration allows sufficient time for the barium contrast material to transit through the small intestine so that the radiologist can capture accurate images of the intestinal structure and function. The 2-hour timeline typically reflects the average time it takes for the barium to pass through the various loops of the small bowel. This transit time can vary slightly per individual, but 2 hours is considered a standard duration for a small bowel series in patients without any underlying motility issues. In contrast, shorter durations would be insufficient for the barium to adequately fill and outline the small intestine, preventing proper imaging and assessment. A significantly longer duration, such as 4 hours, would be atypical for a patient with normal motility and would suggest a more complex or problematic situation that may not be representative of the standard small bowel series process.