Live Life Team
Doctors use this procedure to detect the presence of polyps, colitis or tumours in the large bowel. The large bowel comprises colon and rectum. The Barium Enema involves a special x-ray procedure to look into the large bowel for the above problems. As a normal x-ray does not provide enough clarity, doctors use barium sulphate as the contrast medium to get clear picture of the large bowel. Barium sulphate is a fine, odourless white powder that is not poisonous. The coating of this chemical inside the walls of the bowel helps obtaining clear pictures. Barium sulphate is put into the rectum through anus for examining the large bowel. The upper portion comprising food pipe, stomach and small intestine is examined by putting barium sulphate through mouth.
What is the scope of this test
This is a good tool for detecting colon cancer or abnormal developments in the large bowel. The growth in the large intestine, whether cancerous or non-cancerous, has a sign of inflammation. This is known as diverticulitis. Therefore, inflammation in the bowel is easily detectable with the barium enema test. This is the reason for using this test commonly to detect problems in large bowel.
How this test becomes so essential
If your stools contain traces of blood, the doctors advise you to undergo Barium Enema test. This applies to the cases of chronic constipation and diarrhoea too. The doctors use the barium enema test to investigate the causes for lower abdominal pain of unknown causes. They use it for detecting cancer/polyps in the colon or rectum. The test is necessary especially to rule out rectum cancer or growth of polyps, should there be a family history of the same.
How barium enema test is performed
As the first step, the patient is given a laxative for clearing the bowel of stools. This enables getting a clear picture. The diet for the previous day of the examination is specific. During examination, the patient lies on a side or front. The colon muscles are relaxed through an injection. The barium sulphate is put into the colon through the back passage. The radiographer monitors this on a television display connected to this equipment. The lying positions are changed for spreading the barium sulphate evenly on the inner walls of the colon. Air is passed to expand the colon and push the barium sulphate. After putting barium sulphate, x-ray pictures are taken for different positions. The patient has to hold the breath during x-ray snaps. It takes around 20 minutes to complete the test. This test could cause discomfort, but not painful. Once the x-rays are taken, the patient is free to go to toilet to evacuate the bowels. A normal x-ray is taken after this, to ensure clearance of barium sulphate. The patient gets the test results in a few days.
Does this test have any risk factor
The risk of radiation is not ruled out. However, the test involves only a mild dose of radiation. Pregnant women should not undergo this test, as it may affect the fetus. The insulin-dependent patients have to stop eating at an appropriate time before they undergo the examination.
Are there complications related to this test
A colon with severe inflammation could tear out. However, this is very rare.
