Ileostomy reversal & barium enema

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pepperdog
pepperdog Member Posts: 96
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
My husband will ultimately undergo an ileostomy reversal. We were told that he would have a barium enema before the procedure. Can anyone tell me what is the purpose of this test and exactly what does it tell the doctor ? (He had a resection due to rectal cancer.) Thanks!

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  • cal79
    cal79 Member Posts: 57
    #2
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    The barium enema is an x-ray of the bowel with the use of contrast. This is done to check the resection (or j-pouch site) before they go ahead with surgery.

    With the actual test, you lie on a table, and a tube is inserted into the rectum. A contrast liquid is pumped into the colon, and they ask you to squeeze and try and hold the liquid in while they take some x-rays (not easy after having an ileostomy!). I didn't find the procedure too bad, it didn't hurt and no bowel cleanse was required.

    I think the procedure lets the doc know if there are any stricures or problems with the surgical joins, as well as whether the pouch inflates with the contrast etc.

    As soon as I had this test, I was scheduled for reversal surgery.

    Cal :)
  • pepperdog
    pepperdog Member Posts: 96
    #3
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    cal79 said:

    The barium enema is an x-ray of the bowel with the use of contrast. This is done to check the resection (or j-pouch site) before they go ahead with surgery.

    With the actual test, you lie on a table, and a tube is inserted into the rectum. A contrast liquid is pumped into the colon, and they ask you to squeeze and try and hold the liquid in while they take some x-rays (not easy after having an ileostomy!). I didn't find the procedure too bad, it didn't hurt and no bowel cleanse was required.

    I think the procedure lets the doc know if there are any stricures or problems with the surgical joins, as well as whether the pouch inflates with the contrast etc.

    As soon as I had this test, I was scheduled for reversal surgery.

    Cal :)

    Cal, thanks for the firsthand information. My husband is looking forward to the reversal; we just have to wait for all the chemo to end.

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