Pediatric Imaging

Barium Enema

What is a barium enema?

A barium enema is a special kind of X-ray that takes a picture of the area of your body called your large intestine. Your doctor might want you to have this test because you might be having stomach pains or difficulty going to the bathroom.

Do I need to do anything before the test?

Depending on how old you are, you should not eat for 3 to 4 hours before you come to the hospital. Your doctor’s office will tell you exactly how long you must not eat before this examination. For a special kind of barium enema, called an "air contrast" enema, you might need to take some medicine that will make you have to go to the bathroom.

What will happen during the test?

When you come to the hospital for the barium enema, you and your parents will check in at the Pediatric Waiting Area and Playroom. There are many toys and books for you to play with in the Pediatric Waiting Area or you can bring your own toys and books with you from home.

The person who will be taking the X-rays is called the technologist. When it is your turn, he or she will take you and your family into an examination room. This room has a table in the middle with a camera next to it. This is the camera that will take pictures of the inside of you! This camera does not look like the camera that your mom uses to take pictures on the first day of school, on your birthday or when you go on a trip. This camera is too big to carry and so it always stays in this special room. That is why you have to come to the hospital to get your picture taken.

The technologist will then help you change in special hospital pajamas and then will take one quick picture. The doctor, called a radiologist, looks at the picture and then comes into the room. The doctor will have you lay on your side and they will put a small tube into your rectum, the place where you go to the bathroom. This may be a little uncomfortable, but it only lasts for a few minutes. The doctor will then put some white liquid, called barium, into the tube. You might feel a little pressure and may feel like you need to go to the bathroom. The doctor will take a few more pictures and then you are all done. The whole test takes about as long as your favorite TV show! After you done, you can go to the bathroom and then put your clothes back on.