Parent's information regarding barium enemaDisclaimer: This fact sheet is for education purposes only. Please consult with your doctor or other health professional to make sure this information is right for your child. What is a barium enema?A Barium enema examination is a series or X-rays taken to show your child's large bowel, colon and rectum, by injecting a white liquid called barium into the bowel. What is barium?Barium is a white liquid with a milk shake chalky texture containing radiopaque substance (barium sulphate) which makes the large bowel easier to visualise. What happens in a barium enema examination?The barium enema is a test carried out in the Medical Imaging Department at the Children's Hospital at Westmead. In this examination, a series or X-rays are taken of your child's large bowel. The test is performed in a room with an X-ray table and a large camera above it. The camera is linked to a television screen where an X-ray image of the bowel can be observed. The doctor / nurse will lie your child on their side while inserting a thin lubricated plastic tube called a catheter into the rectum through the anus and will adhere it in place with medical tape. Your child will feel some discomfort when the catheter is inserted. After the insertion of the catheter, barium will then be injected into the bowel through the catheter and your child will feel distension in the abdomen. The barium will flow through the large bowel and temporarily coat the inside lining of the colon and rectum. As the bowel fills with barium, loops of black gut will be seen on the television screen, which helps to show the normal bowel contour, patency and position. A series of X-ray's will be taken in different directions. The pictures are checked and the test is complete. Medical imagingStaff will inform you at booking of any preparation.
This document was updated on Thursday, 10 June 2010.
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