The air-contrast stomach examination: an overview.

An overview of current air-contrast stomach examination techniques is offered: (a) Hampton's technique which does not use distension; (b) the Japanese method which utilizes the relaxant drug Buscopan, good distension, and much patient rotation; (c) a third method in which no drugs are used but more distension is obtained than in Hampton's technique; and (d) the Australian mode which features relaxant drugs, extra dense barium, and little patient rotation. Experimentation with various techniques using newwer materials recently available should result in earlier diagnosis and better patient care in carcinoma and other stomach diseases.