Barium Enema
This examination is designed to check the lining of the colon and is usually requested to investigate abdominal pain, blood in the bowel motions or a change in the bowel habit. Diseases which may cause these symptoms include bowel cancer, diverticular disease, irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease. Many patients who have a strong family history of bowel cancer have a barium enema every 5 years or so to find small growths (known as polyps) before they can develop into cancer.
What to expect?
The enema is performed by placing a small tube in the rectum. The colon is partially filled with a white liquid called barium, then distended with gas. The barium shows up well on xrays, and the fine coating of barium on the bowel lining will highlight any abnormalities.
Because the bowel has a complicated shape with many loops, X-rays have to be taken from different angles to obtain a complete evaluation. The table has an xray TV camera, which is used to place the patient in the correct position, and then xrays are taken with a still camera.
This is a rather undignified examination and the bowel distention by barium and gas can be somewhat uncomfortable but it should not be painful. It usually takes 30-40 minutes and afterwards you will be able to go to the toilet and have a shower to clean up. It takes several days for all the barium to be expelled and you will need to drink a good amount of fluid and maintain a good fibre intake, for example by eating a lot of fruit, over the next 48 hours. The bowel motions are quite heavy because of the barium within them and can be difficult to flush from the toilet.
Preparation
For this procedure the colon needs to be completely emptied, so we will give you laxatives to take over the preceding 24 hours. You will be given further instructions when you book in.
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