How is it performed? of Barium enema

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Your bowel will need to be empty so clear pictures of the inside can be seen. For 48 hours before the test you will need to follow a special diet and you will need to take a special laxative before the examination. Unless you're already in the hospital, it is done as a routine outpatient procedure.

A soft plastic tube is then inserted into your anus (back passage), and the barium sulphate liquid is passed through the tube into your bowel. The radiologist or radiographer will observe this on the television screen. You may initially be given an injection to relax the muscles within the large intestine and during the examination air may also be passed into the bowel through the tube, which makes the detail clearer. You will be asked to move into different positions and the table may be slightly tipped to get different views and X rays are taken. When the X-ray pictures are taken, you wll be asked to hold your breath.

This examination should not hurt but may be a little uncomfortable associated with your bowel feeling full.

Once the radiologist (a doctor specialising in X-rays) is satisfied that sufficient X-rays have been taken, the tube is removed. After you have been to the toilet and another normal x-ray has been taken to check for any remaining barium you can go home. A report will be sent back to your GP a few days later.