BARIUM ENEMA -LARGE BOWEL :

Preparation : Proper preparation is very essential as follows:

Day before test : Fluid diet only. ( Plenty of water, Jello, clear juice, noncarbonated soft drinks, consommé, clear broth).

Afternoon before test:

• Take a laxative such as Roy-Vac or Citromag (buy from pharmacy and follow instructions that come with it).
• For Citromag : Drink 5-6 glasses ( spaced out) of water before 4 PM. At 5 PM, take full bottle of Citromag .Wait one hour. At 6 PM start drinking another 5 glasses of water (spaced out).
• Be prepared for frequent toilet visits. Some people may need extra preparation or fleet enema.
• Note : For children, very weak and elderly , half bottle of Citromag may suffice.

Procedure : :

A tube is placed in to the rectum and barium is slowly administered in to the large bowel . As barium fills the large bowel, Radiologist observes the functioning and anatomy of the large bowel. As the large bowel is filled, you may feel full and some what uncomfortable during the test. It is important to retain the barium during the length of the test to obtain a good exam. The whole filling takes only about 10-15 minutes. Once the pictures are done, some of the barium is drained back to relieve immediate pressure. Exam time- usually 15-20 minutes, but best to allow 1 hour.