BARIUM ENEMA

A BARIUM ENEMA
IS AN X-RAY EXAM
THAT CAN DETECT
CHANGES OR
ABNORMALITIES
IN THE LARGE
INTESTINE
(COLON). THE
PROCEDURE IS
ALSO CALLED A
COLON X-RAY.
WHY IT'S DONE

• recommend a barium enema to determine the cause of signs and symptoms,

such as the following:
• Abdominal pain
• Rectal bleeding
• Changes in bowel habits
• Unexplained weight loss
• Chronic diarrhea
• Persistent constipation
BEFORE A BARIUM ENEMA EXAM, YOU'LL BE
INSTRUCTED TO EMPTY YOUR COLON.

• To empty your colon, you may be asked to:

• Follow a special diet the day before the exam. 
• Fast after midnight.
• take a laxative the night before the exam
• Use an enema kit
DURING THE EXAM
• asked to remove eyewear, jewelry or removable dental devices
• An X-ray will be taken to make sure your colon is clean
• Then a lubricated enema tube will be inserted into your rectum
•  A barium bag will be connected to the tube to deliver the barium
solution into your colon.
• The tube that's used to deliver the barium has a small balloon near its
tip
• As your colon fills with barium, you may feel the urge to have a bowel
movement. Abdominal cramping may occur.
• You may be asked to turn and hold various positions on the exam table.

• A number of X-rays will likely be taken of your colon from various

angles.

• takes about 30 to 60 minutes.

AFTER THE EXAM

• most of the barium will be removed from your colon through the enema
tube.

• use the toilet to expel additional barium and air

• Barium may cause constipation, 
IN DIVERTICULAR DISEASE,

SMALL BULGES OR POCKETS (DIVERTICULA) DEVELOP IN THE LINING OF THE

INTESTINE.DIVERTICULITIS IS WHEN THESE POCKETS BECOME INFLAMEDOR INFECTED. 
This abdominal X-ray done 48 h after treatment showed
barium remaining in the diverticula throughout the colon
COLORECTAL CANCER- MOST COLORECTAL CANCERS START AS A
GROWTH ON THE INNER LINING OF THE COLON OR RECTUM. THESE
GROWTHS ARE CALLED POLYPS.
ULCERATIVE COLITIS LONG-LASTING INFLAMMATION AND ULCERS
(SORES) IN THE DIGESTIVE TRACT. AFFECTS THE INNERMOST LINING OF
YOUR LARGE INTESTINE (COLON) AND RECTUM.
CRON’S DISEASE- IT CAUSES INFLAMMATION OF THE DIGESTIVE TRACT, HOLES IN
THE INTESTINAL WALL (PERFORATION), POCKETS OF INFECTION (ABSCESSES), AND
ABNORMAL CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE DIGESTIVE TRACT AND OTHER PARTS OF
THE BODY (FISTULAS)