X-ray is a painless method of examining the body using radiation. During the study, images are obtained by projecting an image onto a special film. To achieve a more detailed picture of some organs and blood vessels, the examination is carried out using a contrast fluid. Barium is widely used as such an x-ray liquid. It is a white, odorless, non-toxic powder used in liquid form. The drug envelops the inner walls of the intestine, which allows you to see it on x-rays. Conventional examination does not give a clear image due to the fact that the intestine transmits x-rays.
Varieties of intestinal examinations
Depending on which part of the organ needs to be checked, there are two types of studies:
- X-ray of the small intestine;
- examination of the thickbowel (irrigoscopy).
In the first case, the patient should drink a liquid containing barium sulfate. In the second, the drug is injected into the rectum through the anus.
Examination of the small intestine
The procedure is performed to diagnose the following diseases:
- Crohn's disease;
- obstruction of the small intestine;
- inflammatory diseases;
- polyps;
- small intestine cancer;
- complications associated with abdominal or intestinal surgery.
As the contrast material travels from the stomach to the small intestine, the radiologist uses an x-ray machine to examine and take pictures. Although the procedure can be performed on its own, it is often done after x-rays of the gastrointestinal tract: the esophagus, stomach, and part of the duodenum. During the procedure, the patient may be asked to change position on the X-ray table so that all bowel surfaces are covered with contrast.
Irrigoscopy
X-ray examination of the large intestine is performed when the following factors occur:
- blood in stool;
- chronic diarrhea or constipation;
- unexplained weight loss;
- pain in the lower abdomen;
- family history of colon cancer or polyps;
- suspected neoplasm or inflammation.
What does an x-ray of the intestine with sulfate suggestbarium? It could be:
- colon cancer;
- polyps (malignant or benign growths);
- colon inflammation;
- diverticula (bulging of the intestinal wall);
- Crohn's disease;
- ulcerative colitis (inflammatory bowel disease).
Preparing for an x-ray examination of the intestines
Before the examination, the patient must inform the doctor about allergies, in particular to iodine-containing drugs, and provide information about the medications taken. Preparation for an X-ray examination mainly consists in cleansing the body. The patient receives detailed instructions on how to cleanse the intestines before the x-ray. Some of the features are described below.
- Follow a low fiber diet for a few days before the test, avoid dairy products, avoid solid foods, and consume clear liquids (broth, strained juice, tea, coffee, mineral water, jelly).
- For the day, you should take a laxative to cleanse the intestines before x-rays. With irrigoscopy, special preparations are taken, for example, Fortrans, Lavacol. The contents of the medicine sachet should be diluted in water (mineral or tap) to obtain 1 liter of solution. Usual dosage for adults: 1 liter of solution per 15-20 kg. On average, you should drink 3 to 4 liters.
- Do not smoke for 24 hours before the examination.
- Before the procedure, stop taking medications that slow down intestinal motility.
- For 12 hours before the study, you can not eat or drink water.
- The patient should not wear any metal objects such as jewelry or glasses during the examination.
Carrying out X-ray examination
How do intestinal x-rays? The steps for examining the small intestine are described below.
- Before the examination, the patient must drink a contrast fluid.
- The patient will be placed on the X-ray table, the apparatus will be installed over the abdomen. A lead shield is worn to protect other parts of the body.
- After the contrast fluid enters the small intestine, the radiologist will examine the body through a fluoroscope. The specialist is usually in the next room.
- The patient should lie still. You can also hold your breath for a couple of seconds to reduce the chance of blurry images.
- The duration of the procedure depends on the amount of time it takes for the contrast to pass from the stomach to the intestines. The examination usually takes approximately one to two hours, but for some patients it can take up to twice as long.
- One of the parents may be present during the x-ray examination of the child. He wears a lead apron to protect his body from radiation.
Colon x-rays have several differences, for example:
- During the examination, diluted barium for x-rays is inserted into the rectum through the posterior rectum using a small soft tube.pass.
- At the same time, air is blown through the tube. This helps to make the pictures clearer.
To relax the muscles of the walls of the large intestine, the patient can be injected with Buscopan. Its use is contraindicated in angle-closure glaucoma, prostatic hypertrophy with urinary retention, mechanical stenosis in the gastrointestinal tract, tachycardia, myasthenia gravis (muscle weakness) and megacolon (colon malformation).
- The radiologist will see on the screen how the contrast fills the intestines. The patient may need to change body position to fully distribute the barium along the walls of the colon.
- The examination takes about 15-30 minutes.
Feelings during and after x-rays
Intestinal x-ray is a painless procedure, but sometimes causes some discomfort for patients. You may experience bloating and nausea after taking the contrast fluid orally. Also, during an x-ray of the intestine, some patients experience discomfort in the lower abdomen, bursting.
It is recommended to stay at home for a few hours after the x-ray, as the contrast agent may cause diarrhea. It is also possible to stain the feces white. After an x-ray of the intestines, it is recommended to drink plenty of fluids to cleanse the body of barium residues and to prevent constipation. It is also recommended to eat more fruits and vegetables. In cases wherethere is no stool for about 3-4 days, you should contact your doctor.
Survey result
The radiologist can interpret what an x-ray of the intestine shows. He will analyze the received images and send a report to the attending physician, with whom he can discuss the results.
Benefits
Intestinal x-ray has its advantages:
- X-ray is a painless, minimally invasive procedure that rarely has complications.
- An x-ray examination can often provide enough information about a he alth condition to avoid more invasive procedures.
- After the examination, no radiation remains in the patient's body.
- X-rays generally have no side effects.
Risks of small bowel exam
- There is always a small chance of developing cancer from overexposure. However, the benefit of an accurate diagnosis outweighs this risk.
- Women should always inform their doctor or X-ray technologist of the possibility of pregnancy.
- Barium for bowel x-ray can cause constipation or affect stool color if not completely eliminated from the body.
Risks during barium enema
During an X-ray of the large intestine, the patient is exposed to radiation, the duration and level of which are minimized. The exposure time of the rays is about 3 minutes, andthe amount is equivalent to what people would get in the natural environment for three years. In addition, there are other risks during the survey, for example:
- Intestinal perforation. There is a small risk of bowel perforation (small hole). This is a serious complication that can be fatal. Perforation is extremely rare and usually occurs only when the colon is inflamed.
- Side effects of taking Buscopan, such as:
- palpitations (tachycardia);
- dry mouth;
- dyshidrosis;
- anaphylactic shock, including death, anaphylactoid reactions, dyspnea, skin reactions (eg, urticaria, rash, erythema, and pruritus) and other manifestations of hypersensitivity;
- temporary blurred vision. The drug can be replaced with similar injections of "Glucagon".
Side effects of contrast agent
Like any other medical drug, barium sulfate has a number of side effects. They can be:
- severe stomach pain;
- strong spasms;
- diarrhea or constipation;
- ringing in the ears;
- sweating, confusion, increased heart rate;
- pallor of the skin;
- weakness;
- moderate abdominal cramps;
- nausea or vomiting.
Contraindications
Although intestinal x-ray is very effective for diagnosing a number of diseases, the procedure has a number of contraindications. These include:
- recent bowel biopsy;
- intestinal perforation;
- intestinal obstruction;
- internal bleeding;
- pregnancy.
X-ray during pregnancy
X-rays are not recommended during pregnancy.
The amount of radiation received during the procedure is considered safe for the patient, but may be dangerous for the unborn child. X-rays can cause the development of various pathologies in the fetus, as well as its death. Examination may only be carried out under exceptional circumstances.
Reviews
Reviews of bowel x-rays are usually positive. Patients note that the procedure itself is painless, although rather unpleasant. During the study, there is some discomfort, a feeling of pressure and fullness. The examination of the intestine takes some time, but after all the patient can go home. You can find out what an x-ray of the intestine shows about 14 days after the description of the images by a radiologist.
In conclusion
Despite the active development of modern computer diagnostic methods, X-ray examination remains indispensable for identifying pathological conditions of various organs and systems. It allows you to study the features of the morphology and structure of the human body and evaluate the occurrence of any changes. X-ray of the intestine allows you to determine the shape, position, condition of the mucous membrane, tone andperistalsis of some parts of the large intestine. Examination plays an important role in the diagnosis of various diseases, tumors, polyps, diverticula, intestinal obstruction. A suspension of barium sulfate is used as a contrast medium.
Before the examination, a special preparation for the x-ray of the intestine is carried out. It includes maintaining a diet, cleansing the body with laxatives, and giving several enemas. In practice, it has been proven that radiographs after careful adequate preparation are quite clear.
X-ray examination has both advantages and disadvantages. Before the procedure, you should tell the doctor about the medications you are taking, the presence of diseases, allergies, and also exclude pregnancy.
