Barium enema

A liquid that coats the large bowel so it can be seen on an X-ray.

Typical Hospital Stay

Day case

Type of anaesthetic

Local anaesthetic

Covered by health insurance?

Yes

Procedure duration

20 minutes

 

Available to self-pay?

Yes

What is Barium enema

A barium enema is a special type of X-ray test used to examine the large bowel (colon and rectum), which doesn’t show up well on normal X-rays. Coating the bowel with barium, a white liquid, highlights it on X-rays. The test can help look for signs of inflammation, disease or cancer.

A referral letter from a consultant or GP is required before booking any diagnostic investigation.

Before your treatment

You will need a referral letter from a consultant or GP before booking any diagnostic investigation. You will have a formal consultation with a healthcare professional. During this time, you will be able to explain your medical history symptoms and raise any concerns that you might have.

We will also discuss with you whether any further diagnostic tests such as scans or blood tests are needed. Any additional costs will be discussed before further tests are carried out.

Although this is a relatively straight forward process you may be required not to eat solid foods or certain drinks for a period of time before your procedure. You may see this referred to as ‘starve times’ and we will advise you of these before your visit.

Your treatment may be adapted to meet your individual needs so it’s important to follow your consultant’s advice. It’s natural to feel anxious before hospital treatment but knowing what to expect can help. Please raise any concerns or questions with your consultants or nurse so you feel comfortable and in control.

The procedure

We understand that having an examination can potentially be a time of anxiety and worry. Our experienced and caring medical staff will be there for you holding your hand every step of the way. The test usually takes up to 20 minutes. We may give you an injection to help relax the muscles of your bowel wall and make the examination easier to tolerate. The muscle relaxant may be given routinely at the start of the procedure or only if bowel spasm is seen during the examination.

During the procedure, a soft plastic tube is gently passed into your rectum. Liquid barium will flow through the tube to coat the bowel wall. Air may be passed through the tube to expand the bowel and make the bowel wall easier to see. You may feel as if you need to go to the toilet. It’s important to try and hold the barium fluid and air in by keeping the muscles of your bottom very tight.

Images of your bowel will be displayed on a TV screen. You may be moved into different positions to help the barium flow and to see as much of the bowel as possible. The X-ray table will slowly tilt to get you into position. Several X-ray images will be taken with you in different positions: some with you lying on your side and some with you upright. When sufficient X-rays have been taken the tube will be removed. You will be allowed to leave the X-ray room and go to the toilet.

Aftercare

The examination is routinely performed as an outpatient procedure. A report will be sent to the doctor who requested your test. The report can take several days to reach your doctor. Before you go home, please ask you radiographer when you can expect to get your results. You may experience some discomfort: some patients may feel cramp-like pains for a short while afterwards. Muscle relaxants can temporarily blur your eyesight, but your vision should improve after 30 minutes.

You may feel bloated for a short while after having a barium enema. You may also feel constipated for a few days and need to take mild laxatives. On rare occasions complications following a barium enema can occur. There is a small chance the colon may be damaged or perforated during the procedure. This can lead to bleeding and infection which may require treatment with medicines or surgery. If you experience bleeding continuing abdominal pains or bloating – call us straight away.

These could indicate that your colon has been damaged or perforated during the procedure. Your consultant will talk to you about the possible risks and complications of having this procedure and how they apply to you. If you have any questions or concerns, we’re here to help.

Your doctor may recommend you have a barium enema if you experience changes in your bowel habits, blood in your stools, abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, or anaemia. It is often conducted as an outpatient procedure in the radiology or out-patient department. Alternatives to this test may include: a colonoscopy, a virtual colonoscopy, and a sigmoidoscopy.

The test helps doctors detect any inflammation disease or cancer in your bowel. Pregnant women are advised not to have a barium enema unless there is an urgent medical need due to the risk of radiation.

We pride ourselves on our clinical excellence you’ll be looked after by an experienced multi-disciplinary care team.

Our patients are at the heart of what we do, and we want you to be in control of your care. To us that means you can choose the consultant you want to see and when you want. They’ll be with you every step of the way.

All of our consultants are of the highest calibre and benefit from working in our modern well-equipped hospital.

Our consultants have high standards to meet often holding specialist NHS posts and delivering expertise in complex sub-specialty surgeries. Many of our consultants have international reputations for their research in their specialised field.

We’ve tried to make your experience with us as easy and relaxed as possible. For more information on visiting hours, our food, what to pack if you’re staying with us, parking and all those other important practicalities, please visit our patient information pages.

Our dedicated team will also give you tailored advice to follow in the run up to your visit.

Interested in finding out more?

Speak to a member of our team

Phone01424 757400

Enquiry form

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