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Barium Enema - How To Prepare
About this test
Before a barium enema, tell your doctor if you:
- Are or might be pregnant.
- Are allergic to latex. Latex products are commonly used to administer the contrast material. If you have a latex allergy, different products will be used.
- Know that you are allergic to barium.
- Have had an upper digestive barium test (upper GI or barium swallow) recently.
- Have had a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy recently.
The preparation for a barium enema usually involves a very thorough cleansing of the large intestine, because the colon must be completely clear of stool and gas. Even a small amount of stool can affect the accuracy of the test.
- For 1 to 3 days before the test, you will usually be on a clear liquid diet.
- On the day before the
test:
- You should drink very large amounts of noncarbonated clear liquids, unless your doctor has advised you not to.
- You will then take a combination of laxatives to empty your intestines.
- You may be asked to take a tap water enema to clean any remaining stool from your colon.
- On the day of the test, you may need to repeat the enema until the liquid that passes is free of any stool particles. Sometimes a rectal suppository or a commercially prepared enema, such as a Fleet enema, is used instead of a tap water enema.
Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding
the need for this test, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results
will mean. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill out the
medical test information form 
(What is a PDF document?).
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: April 25, 2011 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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