Cost-effectiveness of barium enemas performed by radiographers

AIM: To assess the cost-effectiveness of barium enemas performed by radiographers compared to those performed by consultant radiologists. METHOD: Prospective study of 200 barium enemas carried out by a senior radiographer and a consultant radiologist. The sample was a consecutive sample of adult out-patients over a 3-month period, with no exclusion. The length of time of the enema and the numbers and grades of staff involved in the procedure were recorded. This was translated into staffing costs using the appropriate pay scales. RESULTS: The barium enemas performed by the superintendent radiographer were more cost-effective than those performed by the consultant radiologist (pound 1406 for 100 radiographer-performed barium enemas compared to pound 1787 for 100 carried out by the consultant radiologist). CONCLUSION: In terms of staffing costs, radiographers performing barium enemas not only liberates radiologist time, it is also a cost-effective method of providing an out-patient barium enema service.     

Multifocal abnormalities of the gastrointestinal tract in AIDS

On review of 63 barium sulfate examinations in 44 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), 61% of the 23 single-contrast examinations and 98% of the 40 double-contrast examinations were abnormal. Abnormalities involved all areas of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and covered a wide spectrum of findings including thickened folds, nodularity, increased secretions, superficial erosions, ulcerations, plaque formation, and tumor mass. Abnormalities, when present, were most commonly multifocal (three or more sites) on upper GI study (64%) and barium enema (69%). Thirty-eight patients (86%) had at least one abnormal study; 27 of these patients had multifocal disease in either the upper or lower tract separately or combined. The most common site of abnormality was the duodenum on upper GI study and the sigmoid colon on barium enema. In 27 cases the radiographic abnormalities could be specifically correlated with a malignancy or an opportunistic infection by endoscopy, colonoscopy, culture, biopsy, or autopsy. Multifocal disease of the upper and/or lower GI tract, especially when the duodenum is involved, should suggest AIDS even in patients not thought to be at high risk for the disease.     

Through the colonoscope--a radiologist's view

A series of 1578 consecutive colonoscopies performed by radiologists in training is reviewed, with specific reference to patients with colorectal neoplasms. The contribution of the radiologist to the practice of colonoscopy is discussed. This input to the colonoscopy service of a hospital carries several benefits, including the following: a link is established between radiologists and gastroenterologists which improves the standard of both barium enema and colonoscopic examinations; informed discussion is made possible about the suitability of a barium enema lesion for endoscopic removal; the endoscoping radiologist acquires an impartial view of each examination and is able to choose the more appropriate investigation; direct visualisation of the colonic mucosa and its abnormalities may facilitate the interpretation of barium radiographs and enhance the quality of the radiological training that can be offered. In our experience, participation in a weekly colonoscopy session has had no adverse effect on the routine work of the radiology department.     

Double-contrast barium enema technique

During a double-contrast barium enema the radiologist interacts with the patient, the controls of the fluoroscope, and the image on the television monitor. The radiologist paints an image of the colon; the barium is the paint, the colon is the canvas. The radiologist manipulates the barium pool, the air column, and the patient to create images. Although the radiologist may have a plan going into the examination, the game plan is altered by the patient's ability to tolerate and perform the study, the length of the colon, and pathology encountered. If the radiologist understands the goals to be achieved, the studied can be tailored to fit what is happening in the fluoroscopic suite.     

Radiographic features of colitis associated with the hemolytic-uremic syndrome.

Four cases of colitis associated with the prodromal phase of the hemolytic-uremic syndrome are presented. Abnormalities demonstrable on barium enema examination consist of prominent filling defects, marginal serrations, and mucosal edema. Segmental bowel dilatation and areas of stenosis may also be present. Although nonspecific in itself, this appearance of the colon when correlated with the clinical history and peripheral blood smear should enable the radiologist to suggest the diagnosis of hemolytic-uremic syndrome.     

Rectal and sigmoid involvement secondary to carcinoma of the prostate.

Three types of involvement of the rectum and recto-sigmoid by carcinoma of the prostate are reviewed through an analysis of eight cases. A fourth type with subserosal metastatic implant of the proximal sigmoid may occasionally be encountered. The roentgenographic findings are not pathognomonic, but are characteristic of extrinsic involvement of the bowel wall. When clinical symptoms are predominantly related to the bowel, carcinoma of the prostate is usually advanced. All patients presented with bone metastases, uretero-hydronephorsis, lack of function of one kidney, or both bone metastases and urinary tract obstruction. Rectoscopy and biopsy are helpful. However, biopsy specimens often show non-diagnostic features in secondary malignancy. Correct diagnosis is important, since there is a difference in treatment of primary carcinoma and of secondary involvement of the rectum by prostatic carcinoma. A diagnostic challenge exists if the patient is evaluated by barium enema examination for primary bowel symptoms, in particular, large bowel obstruction. At this time intravenous pyelography and bone survey for metastases may not be available to suggest the correct diagnosis. More widespread use of barium enema examinations in the evaluation of advanced carcinoma of the prostate is suggested, since the type of rectal disease shown on barium enema study was not clinically suspected in five of eight patients. The prognosis is usually unfavorable because of advanced carcinoma. Survival often does not exceed several months to one year. However, one of our patients is still well after three years of hormonal therapy.     

Colorectal carcinoma: a radiologic and clinical review

A profusion of imaging techniques is currently used for evaluating patients with suspected or known colorectal carcinoma. In most institutions, the combination of flexible sigmoidoscopy and a well-performed barium enema study should be retained as a more cost-effective, safe, and complete method of examination than colonoscopy. Endosonography appears to be promising for evaluating preoperatively the local extent of rectal carcinoma. CT is being challenged by MR imaging as the most sensitive modality for detecting liver metastases, but CT currently remains the technique of choice for evaluating recurrent disease and its extent. The diversity of available modalities will ensure that the radiologist remains at the forefront in the clinical investigation of colorectal carcinoma.     

A comparison of fluoroscopy time and dose area product (DAP) readings for outpatient barium enema examinations

Historically, the radiologist was the operator for the barium enema examination. However, as a result of the worldwide shortage of radiologists, and the development of the four-tier service delivery model, radiographers at this Trust have undertaken postgraduate training, and now perform and report their own barium enema examinations. Periodic clinical audit is required to ensure that the patient receives the same high standard of care, in terms of radiation dose, irrespective of the health care professional undertaking the examination. This study seeks to assess the situation at this large hospital in East Anglia. Fluoroscopy time and dose area product (DAP) measurements from 92 barium enema examinations, performed by radiographers (90.2%) and radiologists (9.8%), were compared to see if there were significant differences in the radiation dose to the patient, as a result of the operator group undertaking the examination. The study shows that although radiographers produce more undercouch images (a mean of 12.1 images compared to 9.3 images), their fluoroscopy times (a mean of 1.74 min compared with 2.82 min) and undercouch DAP readings (a mean of 1244.9 cGycm² compared with 1971.3 cGycm²) were lower than that of the radiologists. This resulted in a lower total DAP (a mean of 1536.8 cGycm² compared with 2236.0 cGycm²), and therefore a lower radiation dose to the patient, when the examination was undertaken by a radiographer, as opposed to a radiologist. The researchers believe that this study highlights the ability of the radiographer to assume the role of the operator for the barium enema examination. Nevertheless, it is acknowledged that continued assessment is required to ensure that performance is maintained.     

胃肠系统淋巴瘤的X线与CT诊断(附20例分析)

目的分析胃肠系统淋巴瘤的CT、胃肠造影表现。材料与方法回顾性分析了20例胃肠系统淋巴瘤的胃肠道造影及CT影像资料，其中男16例，女4例，年龄25～71岁。20例均行胃肠道造影检查，15例行腹部CT检查。所有病例均经病理证实。结果1．胃肠道气钡造影检查①浸润型胃8例，小肠1例；②肿块型胃5例；③溃疡型胃2例；④息肉型近端空肠1例，末端回肠及盲肠3例。2．CT表现向心性壁厚20～25mm局限性肿块，脾大，脾内低密度灶2例；淋巴结增大。结论1．气钡双重造影是诊断胃肠系统淋巴瘤的首选方法，CT检查可以补充其他器官及淋巴结情况。2．胃肠系统淋巴瘤应与其他疾病相鉴别。     

Interventional colorectal endoscopic procedures: residual lesions on follow-up double-contrast barium enema study

Endoscopic procedures such as deep rectal biopsy, sclerosant injection, or banding of hemorrhoids, and the electrocoagulation of small polyps leave residual abnormalities that will be apparent on double-contrast barium enema examinations performed a short time thereafter. Nine cases are described to illustrate the findings that may be encountered. Their recognition is important to prevent diagnostic confusion, and endoscopists should inform radiologists of any procedure performed.     

Double-contrast barium enema examination technique

This review article presents the principles for performing a safe, comfortable, and accurate double-contrast barium enema examination. The procedure is a flexible examination in which the fluoroscopist interacts with the patient, the controls of the fluoroscope, and the image on the television monitor. During a double-contrast examination, images of the colon are created by manipulating the patient, the barium pool, and the amount of air insufflated into the rectum. Fluoroscopy is essential for guiding the radiologist to obtain spot images with adequate technical factors. The fluoroscopist analyzes the luminal contour, the barium-coated mucosal surface en face, and the barium pool to detect abnormalities in the colon. With careful technique, a high-quality examination can be performed in most patients.     

Feasibility of instructing radiology technologists in the performance of gastrointestinal fluoroscopy

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine if dedicated gastrointestinal technologists could be trained to properly perform esophagography and double-contrast barium enema examinations. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Ninety-four patients undergoing double-contrast barium enema examinations and 123 patients undergoing esophagographic examinations were included in the study. The study was conducted over a 4-month period, with examinations performed by eight gastrointestinal technologists, 10 radiology residents, and four staff radiologists. Four random lists were generated for each set of examinations. Each staff gastrointestinal radiologist, who was unaware of who had performed the examination, independently scored the representative radiographs. RESULTS: For the double-contrast barium enema examinations, no statistically significant differences were found between the technologists and residents for amount of barium used, degree of distention, cecal opacification, and quality of spot radiographs. The technologist-performed examinations had a statistically significant lower mean fluoroscopy time (3.2 min, compared with 4.0 min for staff radiologists and 5.7 min for residents). For the esophagrams, no statistically significant differences between technologists and residents were found for single-contrast esophagrams; radiographs of the gastric cardia; assessment of motility, reflux, and transit of a solid bolus; and fluoroscopy time. Double-contrast esophagrams obtained by technologists received a better mean score than did those of the residents. CONCLUSION: Radiology technologists can be trained to perform high-quality esophagography and double-contrast barium enema examinations without an unacceptably high radiation dose.     

Reducing dose at barium enema: radiographers do it digitally

It has been previously shown that, whilst radiographers in our hospital can undertake barium enema examinations with the same degree of diagnostic accuracy as consultant radiologists, there was a dose penalty to the patient arising from the use of a restrictive protocol requiring radiographers to take a series of plain radiographs for reporting purposes. For the past 3 years radiographers at this hospital have worked to a new protocol that replaces all routine radiographs with digital spot films. In the present study, dose-area product (DAP) measurements for 801 barium enema examinations performed by consultant radiologists and radiographers, using the revised protocol, were analysed and compared to ascertain whether there were still significant differences in radiation dose to the patient depending on the category of staff performing the examination. All examinations were reported by a consultant radiologist. The radiologists' reports were analysed against the known outcomes to compare the diagnostic accuracy of the examination when carried out by the two categories of staff. This study shows that using a modified protocol, in which digital spot films replace the series of overcouch radiographs for reporting, our radiographers are able to perform barium enemas without dose penalty to the patient, and without compromizing diagnostic accuracy. Means with 95% confidence intervals for DAP in the two groups were 9.8 Gycm(2) (9.4-10.3 Gycm(2)) and 10.7 Gycm(2) (10.2-11.1 Gycm(2)) for radiographers and radiologists, respectively.     

Blood pressure changes during barium enema

AIMS: To document blood pressure changes during barium enema examination and to determine at what point in the examination changes are likely to occur. METHODS AND RESULTS: Blood pressure measurements were taken at seven points during the course of barium enema examination in 107 consecutive patients. We found that patients over the age of 60 years had statistically significant decreases in blood pressure when they were stood up during the course of the examination. Many of these patients were asymptomatic. Patients who had symptoms (15/107, 14%) when standing up had a degree of hypotension. The duration of barium enema examination is longer in those patients who experience symptoms. CONCLUSION: During a barium enema examination hypotension occurs at the point of standing up more frequently in patients over 60 years and in those who suffer symptoms at this time. Patients who fall into one of these groups should be considered at risk of fainting at this point in the examination. A modified technique to avoid standing should be considered in at-risk patients. Roach, S. C.et al. (2001). Clinical Radiology56, 393-396.     

Double contrast examination in disease of the anorectal region.

Patients with symptoms from the anorectal region will not always be rectoscopically examined and sometimes lesions of the ano-rectal region are overlooked by the rectoscopist. In order to increase the overall diagnostic accuracy and make possible an early diagnosis of pathological changes in the ano-rectal region, the radiologist should take responsibility also for this part of the bowel. Minor lesions are often difficult to demonstrate by the conventional barium enema, but they are readily seen on an adequately performed double contrast examination. Of special importance is the diagnosis of small polypoid tumors which may become malignant. An early diagnosis and subsequent surgical removal of these tumors prevent spread and minimizes the surgical procedure.     

Radiological awareness of current recommendations on prophylaxis of infective endocarditis

In 1982 the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy produced a report recommending that all patients with a prosthetic heart valve should receive prophylactic antibiotics prior to any procedure likely to cause a transient bacteraemia. This includes barium enema and genitourinary tract instrumentation. A postal survey of 38 radiology departments has shown that there is very poor awareness of this report and of its implications for radiology departments and suggestions are made as to how this may be improved.     

Nodular lymphoid hyperplasia of the colon associated with dysgammaglobulinemia.

A case of dysgammaglobulinemia associated with nodular lymphoid hyperplasia of the colon is reported. The patient had typical immunoglobulin deficiency, diarrhea, recurrent respiratory infections, Giardia lamblia in the stool, and lymphoid hyperplasia of the small intestine. His barium enema showed diffuse submucosal nodules. Rectosigmoid biopsy confirmed nodular lymphoid hyperplasia. The similar findings on barium enema in this entity and in lymphosarcoma are stressed.     

钡灌肠双重造影诊断阑尾炎的应用分析

目的 分析钡灌肠双重造影对诊断阑尾炎的可行性.方法 对临床疑有阑尾炎的75例病人,采用造影前2 d流食,造影当日清洁肠道,用足量的钡剂快速注满右半结肠,辅以体位和加压促使阑尾显影.结果 75例中,阑尾炎X线征象典型者41例,21例阑尾部分显影,13例未显影.41例手术病人中X线确诊病例25例,占61.1%,阑尾部分显影X线提示可疑阑尾炎10例,占24.3%,6例X线不显影,未能做出X线诊断,占14.6%.结论 临床怀疑有阑尾炎的病人,可选择钡灌肠双重造影,其检查方法简单、安全且具有较高的诊断准确性.     

Recognition and prevention of barium enema complications

The barium enema is a safe and accurate diagnostic study of the colon but, in rare cases, complications may result. Many of these can be prevented by proper equipment and careful attention to technique. When a complication does occur, prompt recognition and management is vital in decreasing morbidity and mortality. Perforation of the bowel is the most frequent serious complication, occurring in approximately 0.02% to 0.04% of patients. Rarely the colon may burst due to excessive transmural pressure alone. However, a colon weakened by iatrogenic trauma or disease is more likely to perforate during an enema than is a normal healthy bowel. Injury to the rectal mucosa or anal canal due to the enema tip or retention balloon is probably the most common traumatic cause of barium enema perforation. Inflation of a retention balloon within a stricture, neoplasm, inflamed rectum, or colostomy stoma is particularly hazardous. Recent deep biopsy or polypectomy with electrocautery makes the bowel more vulnerable to rupture. The tensile strength of the bowel wall is impaired in elderly patients, patients receiving long-term steroid therapy, and in disease states including neoplasm, diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and ischemia. Intraperitoneal perforation leads to a severe, acute peritonitis with intravascular volume depletion. The ensuing shock may be rapidly fatal. Prompt fluid replacement and laparotomy are essential. If the patient survives the initial shock and sepsis, later complications caused by dense intraperitoneal adhesions may develop. Extraperitoneal perforation is usually less catastrophic but may result in pain, sepsis, cellulitis, abscess, rectal stricture, or fistula. Intramural extravasation often forms a persistent submucosal barium granuloma which may ulcerate or be mistaken for a neoplasm. The most dramatic complication of barium enema is venous intravasation of barium. Fortunately, this is quite rare as it may be immediately lethal. Most cases have been attributed to trauma from the enema tip or retention balloon, mucosal inflammation, or misplacement of the tip in the vagina. Bacteremia has been found in as many as 23% of patients following barium enema and, in rare cases, may cause symptomatic septicemia. Other less common complications include barium impaction, water intoxication, allergic reactions, and cardiac arrhythmias. Preparatory laxatives and cleansing enemas have been implicated in some instances of dehydration, rectal trauma, water intoxication, and perforation. Careful review of the indications for examination, previous radiographs, and clinical history will identify many of the patients at greater risk for complications so that appropriate precautions may be observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Irritable bowel syndrome: is a barium enema necessary?

A retrospective analysis was made of 114 new patients attending a gastroenterology clinic, in whom the initial clinical diagnosis was irritable bowel syndrome. Barium enemas were performed in 84 patients (74%), 15 of whom were found to have significant other disease. In each case this would have been suspected from the routine haematological and biochemical screening tests. It is suggested that, in the investigation of patients under 50 years of age presenting to a gastroenterology clinic with a typical history of irritable bowel syndrome, a barium enema should only be performed if the clinical examination, sigmoidoscopy, rectal biopsy or routine blood tests are abnormal. This policy would reduce substantially the number of normal barium enemas performed.