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PATIENT GUIDE X-Ray - Barium Enema Barium Enema What is a Barium Enema? A barium enema is an x-ray exam of the large bowel using a type of x-ray called fluoroscopy. Thick white liquid called barium and air will be used to outline your bowel wall. A barium enema is done to examine polyps, Crohn’s disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and pockets in the bowel (diverticula). You may have to have this procedure because of blood in your stool, altered bowel habits, weight loss, etc... How should I Prepare for a Barium Enema? You will need to have a complete cleansing of your bowel to have an accurate test. Any leftover stool can hide the bowel wall. 1-2 days before the test you will be put on a liquid diet and given laxatives in order to clean your bowel. Please contact the Diagnostic Imaging department for a preparation sheet. Also the preparation sheet is available at http:// www.swndha.nshealth.ca/pages/beprep.htm. The preparation is a very important part of the test. Please tell your doctor if there is any chance you might be pregnant. Pregnant women should not have this test. What can I Expect during a Barium Enema? You will be asked to change into a hospital gown. Once in the room the technologist will explain the procedure to you. This is a good time to ask any questions you may have. You will be asked to lie on your side and the technologist will put a tube into your rectum. Once the tube is put inside, a small balloon will be inflated to help hold the tube inside your rectum. The radiologist will let the barium flow into your rectum. Air will be pumped through the tube into your bowel. You will feel a little pressure and discomfort. 2 The radiologist (x-ray doctor) will take a series of pictures. The doctor will ask you to roll from side to side and ask you to hold your breath while he/she takes the images. The x-ray camera and table will both move during your procedure to see all the areas of your bowel. The table will also stand up and down. The technologist will take more pictures at the end of the exam. The tube will then be taken out and you will be brought to the washroom (directly outside the room) so you can empty the barium from your bowel. To flush the white liquid (barium) from your bowel, you must drink a lot of liquids for the next few days until you are no longer passing barium in your stool. How long will my Barium Enema take? Your barium enema test will take 30 to 60 minutes Barium Enema test 3 The technologists are unable to give test results. Your doctor will receive a copy of the report within approximately 1 week. If you have any questions, concerns or if you are unable to keep your appointment, please do not hesitate to call the booking office at 742-2571 or toll free 1-877-742-2571. Diagnostic Imaging Department Yarmouth Regional Hospital 60 Vancouver Street Yarmouth, NS B5A 2P5 Patient Guides available on http://www.swndha.nshealth.ca/pages/guides.htm SWH promotes a smoke free and scent free environment. No scent is good sense Image used with permission from Johns Hopkins Colon Cancer Center www.hopkinscoloncancercenter.org Prepared by – Diagnostic Imaging Department, SWH. Revised May 2014 4