Department of Diagnostic Imaging
Location: Suite 026
Director: Kurt Meehan, R.T.
Appointments: 216-382-2853
Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
General Description
What to Expect
How to Prepare
About the Department of Diagnostic Imaging
Registration Form
Notice of Privacy Practices and Patient Rights
General Description
A Barium Enema Study is an x-ray exam of the large intestine and rectum that can help detect or diagnose problems in those areas. Barium acts as a liquid contrast agent to help the radiologist see the bowel clearly.
What to Expect
You will be asked to change into a gown and will be positioned on an exam table. You will then be given an enema that contains barium. As your colon fills, the radiologist will take films. Once the colon is filled, you may feel full and somewhat uncomfortable. The technologist will take additional films as quickly as possible. Then, you will be asked to expel the barium in the lavatory and return immediately for additional films. The study should take approximately 45 minutes. You will notice some chalky material in your stools for a few days, which is normal. It is merely the remaining barium that was coating your colon. Increase your fluid intake for a few days after your study to rid your colon of the remaining barium. Your doctor will receive a written report approximately 48 hours after the study.
- Carefully follow all of the instructions on your FleetŪ prep kit the day before your appointment. Waste material in the colon reduces the quality of the images on the x-rays, so the FleetŪ prep must be followed precisely. Otherwise, the entire procedure might have to be repeated.
- Please arrive 10 minutes before your appointment and bring the requisition provided by your physician.