This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Barium enema

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The barium enema is a double contrast radiological technique which is used to assess the anatomy of the large bowel and occasionally the terminal ileum.

The patient is prepared for a barium enema in the following manner:

  • low residue diet for three days prior to the procedure
  • laxatives 24 hr prior
  • bowel washout immediately prior

Air and barium are introduced rectally and radiographs are taken.

The barium enema is not reliable for diagnosis of rectal pathology.

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation, such as a web address or phone number. This information will always be displayed when you visit this page

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.