Services:
Barium Enema
What
is a Barium Enema?
What
are some common uses of the procedure?
How
should I prepare for the procedure?
What
does the equipment look like?
How
does the procedure work?
How
is the procedure performed?
What
will I experience during the procedure?
Who
interprets the results and how do I get them?
What
are the benefits vs. risks?
What
are the limitations of Lower GI Tract Radiography (Barium
Enema)?
What
is a Barium Enema? (Back
to Top)
Radiological
images are created by passing small, highly controlled amounts
of radiation through the body and capturing the resulting
shadows and reflections on film. Most people are familiar with
x-ray images, which produce a still picture of the body's
internal organs. A similar imaging method, fluoroscopy, uses
x-rays to capture a moving image of an organ while it is
functioning. Though still x-ray images can be useful in
examining the colon, and rectum, fluoroscopy is often the most
effective way to view abnormal or blocked movement of waste
through the body's lower gastrointesinal (GI) tract.
What
are some common uses of the procedure?
(Back
to Top)
A physician
may order a lower GI examination to look for ulcers, benign
tumors (polyps, for example), cancer, or signs of certain
other medical conditions. The procedure is frequently
performed on individuals suffering from chronic diarrhea,
blood in stools, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome,
unexplained weight loss, a change in bowel habits, or
suspected blood loss. Images of the bowel and colon are also
used to diagnose inflammatory bowel disease, a group of
disorders that include Crohn’s disease and ulcerative
colitis.
How
should I prepare for the procedure?
(Back
to Top)
You should
tell your doctor about any recent illnesses or other medical
conditions, as well as any allergies you might have to
medications. Women should always inform their doctor or x-ray
technologist if there is any possibility that they are
pregnant.
1. Day
before exam:
-
Eat
light breakfast and lunch
-
3:00
P.M.- Drink 8 oz. of Magnesium Citrate
-
5:00
P.M.- Take 4 Bisacodyl Tablets
-
Dinner-
Bouillon soup and plain jello
2. Drink 8 ounces of water every hour from 3 P.M. until you go
to bed.
3. You may
drink water the morning of your exam, but do not eat anything.
Once you
arrive at Carvel Imaging Center, you will be asked to change
into a gown before your examination removing your underpants,
jewelry, eyeglasses, and any metal objects that could obscure
the images.
What
does the equipment look like?
(Back
to Top)
The
equipment used for barium enema examinations at Carvel Imaging
Center consists of a large, flat table. A moveable apparatus
extends over a portion of the table and sends real-time images
to a television monitor. Multiple static images are obtained
by the radiologist to review later. The table can move and
tilt and contains a drawer with a fluorescent plate that
captures the image and sends it to a nearby television monitor
for viewing.
How
does the procedure work?
(Back
to Top)
Very small,
controlled amounts of x-ray radiation are passed through the
body. Different tissues - such as bone, blood vessels,
muscles, and other soft tissues - absorb x-ray radiation at
different rates. When a special film plate is exposed to the
absorbed x-rays, an image of the inside of the body is
captured. The
tissues of the lower GI tract are similar in density, so a
contrast material is used to help produce clearer images.
Barium, a dense metallic chemical, is introduced into the
colon through a rectal tube. The barium coats the inside of
the rectum, colon, and a part of the lower small intestine,
and produces a sharp, well-defined images.
How
is the procedure performed?
(Back
to Top)
A lower GI
radiological (Barium Enema) examination is usually done on an
outpatient basis. The radiologist or technologist will ask a
series of questions about potential allergies and prior
sensitivity to contrast material. You will be positioned on
the table, a preliminary film is obtained to check for
adequacy of the bowel preparation. The technologist will then
make the contrast injection by inserting a small tube into the
rectum. A mixture of barium and water is passed into your
colon through the tube. To help the barium thoroughly coat the
lining of the colon, air may also be injected through the
tube. Then a series of images is captured.
You may be
repositioned frequently, to enable the radiologist or
technologist to capture views from several angles.
Once the
x-ray images are completed, most of the barium is drawn back
into a bag, and the patient is directed to the washroom to
expel the remaining barium and air. In some cases, the
technologist may then take additional images to help the
doctor see how well the colon has cleared. The exam is
complete and you will be released.
A lower GI
study typically takes between 30 and 60 minutes.
What
will I experience during the procedure?
(Back
to Top)
As the
barium fills your colon, you will feel the need to move your
bowel. You may feel abdominal pressure, or even minor
cramping. These are common sensations, and most people
tolerate the mild discomfort easily. The tip of the enema tube
is specially designed to help you hold in the barium. If you
are having trouble, let the technologist know.
During the
imaging process, you will be asked to turn from side to side,
and to hold several different positions. At times, pressure
may be applied to your abdomen. With air contrast studies of
the bowel, the table will be positioned for upright spot
films.
Most
patients are able to return to a normal diet and activities
immediately after the exam. Your stools may appear white for a
day or so, as your body clears the metallic liquid from your
system. After a barium enema, some people experience
constipation. If you do not have a bowel movement for more
than two days after your exam, or are unable to pass gas
rectally, call your doctor promptly. You may need an enema or
laxative to assist in eliminating the barium, and your doctor
will prescribe the right solution for you.
Who
interprets the results and how do I get them?
(Back
to Top)
Our
radiologist will analyze the images and fax a signed report
with the interpretation to the your personal physician. The
physician's office will inform you on how to obtain your
results.
What
are the benefits vs. risks?
(Back
to Top)
Benefits
-
With the
use of the barium contrast material, lower GI imaging
provides valuable, detailed information to assist
physicians in diagnosing and treating conditions from
ulcers to cancer.
-
X-ray
imaging of the lower GI tract is a minimally invasive
procedure with rare complications
-
The
imaging process is fast and painless.
-
Radiology
examination can often provide enough information to avoid
more invasive procedures, such as colonoscopy.
Risks
-
In rare
cases, the barium suspension could leak through an
undetected perforation in the lower GI tract, producing
inflammation in surrounding tissues.
-
Even
more rarely, the barium can cause an obstruction in the
gastro intestinal tract, called barium impaction.
-
The
effective radiation dose from this procedure is about 4
mSv, which is about the same as the average person
receives from background radiation in 16 months.
-
Women should always inform their doctor or x-ray
technologist if there is any possibility that they are
pregnant.
Radiation
risks are further minimized by:
(Back
to Top)
-
the use
of high-speed x-ray film that does not require much
radiation to produce an optimal image.
-
technique
standards established by national and international
guidelines that have been designed and are continually
reviewed by national and international radiology
protection councils.
-
modern,
state-of-the-art x-ray systems (including mammography
systems, angiographic labs and CT scanners) that have very
tightly controlled x-ray beams with significant filtration
and x-ray dose control methods. Thus, scatter or stray
radiation is minimized and those parts of a patient's body
not being imaged receive minimal exposure.
A barium
enema is usually not indicated for someone who recently
experienced a sudden attack of bleeding or abdominal pain.
X-ray
imaging is not usually indicated for pregnant women.
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