PROVIDING EXCELLENCE IN BOWEL CARE

Everyone deserves the best treatment and support for bowel conditions

Barium Follow through

A barium follow through is a special X-ray study of the small bowel (bowel between the stomach and large bowel). Barium is used as a contrast medium to line the bowel and this shows up white on X-rays. The examination is often combined with a barium meal examination. You will need to drink a cup of barium every 15 minutes until the end of the examination. It is essential that your stomach should be empty, and an accompanying leaflet will explain what you should avoid eating and for how many hours you should starve.

If you take insulin or tablets for diabetes you need to make sure you have enough to eat on the day before your appointment.

You may be given an injection, generally of Buscopan, to relax the muscles of the bowel wall, and make the examination easier and helps reduce any cramp-like pain you may feel. The examination should not hurt a lot. Some patients are obviously worried about being unable to hold on to the barium, and making a mess on the X-ray table. It is obviously important to try and hold on to the barium and air by keeping the muscles of your bottom very tight.

Return to list of imaging and investigations