What is a Barium Enema?

A Barium Enema, also called a BE, is an x-ray examination of your colon (large bowel).

Day before the examination:

8:00 AM: Light meal

Noon: Clear liquid meal (broth, juice, Jell-O)

2:00 PM 8 oz of clear liquids

4:00 PM: Drink the Fleet Phospho-soda solution mixed with 1 ½ glasses of cold, clear liquid, followed immediately with 1 full glass of water

5:00, 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, and 9:00 PM: 8 oz of clear liquids

Before retiring: Take all 4 Bisacodyl tablets. Swallow tablets whole with a glass of water. Do not chew or dissolve tablets.

Day of examination:

Do not eat breakfast. Clear water or juice is allowed up to 1 hour before exam.

At least 1 hour before your examination, use the Fleet Bisacodyl suppository.

Remove foil wrap. Lie on your side. Insert suppository well up into rectum. Wait 15 minutes before evacuating, even if urge is strong.

Precautions

If you are pregnant or think that you may be pregnant, please inform the technologist prior to the start of the examination.

Procedure

At the start of your examination the radiologist will give you an enema. You will be asked to hold the enema solution in your bowel while the radiologist watches with fluoroscopy. When your colon is full, a series of radiographs are taken. This solution, called barium, will show up on the x-ray films and outline your large bowel. You may feel slight cramping for the short period of time that you are asked to "hold" the barium in your bowel. Try to relax and breathe slowly.

Post Exam

A normal diet can be resumed following the examination.

The radiologist, a physician will interpret the study done and will dictate a report for your doctor. Your doctor will discuss the results with you.