HealthWise KnowledgeBase
Barium Enema
What Affects the Test
Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:
- Stool or gas in the colon.
- Muscle spasms in the colon wall.
- A rapid, irregular heartbeat (tachycardia).
- Severe ulcerative colitis, Reference toxic megacolon Opens New Window, acute Reference diverticulitis Opens New Window, or a suspected perforation of the intestine.
- Pregnancy.
- Inability to remain still or to cooperate during the test.
- Extreme Reference obesity Opens New Window.
- A barium swallow test (Reference upper gastrointestinal series Opens New Window) done within a week before the test.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference April 25, 2011 |
| Medical Review: | Reference Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Reference Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology |
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