Irrigoscopy is a fairly popular procedure in modern medicine. With the help of such a diagnostic study, you can determine a lot of diseases and disorders in the intestines.
That is why today many patients are interested in additional information about this procedure. What is research? How to prepare for an irrigoscopy? What are the indications and contraindications for such a test? What do patients say about the procedure? The answers to these questions will be of interest to many.
Irrigoscopy is… Brief description of the procedure
Irrigoscopy is one of the methods of x-ray examination of the intestine, in which a special contrast agent is used. The most commonly used contrast is barium sulfate, which is administered directly through the rectum.
In fact, this procedure has a lot of advantages - it is easy to perform, gives relatively accurate results and is rarely associated with discomfort or any complications.
What can be seen during the study
Irrigoscopy is veryinformative procedure with which you can get important data about the state of the intestine. First of all, radiographic images provide very accurate data on the location, shape and diameter of the lumen of the large intestine. Through testing, the doctor can also assess the elasticity of the intestinal wall and the degree of its extensibility.
Irrigoscopy helps to obtain information about the work of the Bauhin's valve - the intestinal fold located at the junction of the ileum to the large intestine. Normally, this structure passes the contents of the intestine in only one direction - by monitoring the movement of the contrast agent, you can check if there are any malfunctions in the valve.
This procedure is also very important in the diagnosis of diseases such as diverticulosis, cicatricial narrowing of the intestine. It is also used for suspected tumors and fistulas. With the help of X-ray images, you can check the work of various parts of the intestinal tract, as well as examine the relief of the surface of the mucous membranes.
Indications for the procedure
In what cases is an irrigoscopy prescribed for patients? Reviews of doctors indicate that this procedure has a very important diagnostic value. The indication for its implementation is the suspicion of the presence of certain diseases of the large intestine. In particular, the study is recommended for patients who went to the doctor with the following complaints:
- pain in the colon and areaanus;
- chronic fecal disorders, including prolonged diarrhea or constipation;
- the appearance of uncharacteristic mucous or purulent discharge from the intestine;
- presence of bleeding in the rectum;
- as a preventive measure, people with suspected colon cancers undergo irrigoscopy from time to time;
- Such an examination is also indicated if a previous colonoscopy gave questionable, inaccurate results.
It is worth noting that in most cases barium enema is prescribed in combination with other diagnostic tests.
Preparation rules
Preparing for bowel irrigoscopy is a very important point, as the quality and results of the study depend on it. So what activities does the procedure require? Of course, your doctor will tell you more about this, but there are still some general recommendations.
The large intestine needs to be freed from feces. That is why patients need to slightly change the diet 2-3 days before the barium enema. In particular, all foods that cause heavy stools and bloating should be excluded from the menu. Patients are advised to temporarily stop eating bread, some cereals (oatmeal, millet, pearl barley), as well as fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs. Dishes, by the way, are best steamed.
The day before the procedure, you can have a light meal, but it is better to refuse dinner. Naturally, have breakfast on test dayalso not recommended.
Preparation for bowel irrigoscopy requires some other activities. For example, the colon should be cleansed with enemas, one done the night before and the other the morning of the procedure.
There are more comfortable methods of bowel cleansing. For example, laxatives are used for this purpose. On the eve of the study, the patient may be advised to take medications such as Duphalac or Fortrans.
Irrigoscopy technique
Of course, many patients are interested in the question of how barium enema is done and whether the procedure is painful. It should be noted right away that such a study is absolutely painless.
A special device is usually used to supply contrast to the intestines. It is a jar with a ground-in lid, to which two tubes are attached. At the end of one of the tubes there is a rubber pear, with the help of which air is supplied to the jar, thereby creating excess pressure. A disposable, sterile system for irrigoscopy is attached to another tube - it is through it that the contrast agent enters the intestines. Such a device for irrigoscopy is called the Bobrov apparatus.
During the procedure, the patient lies on his side with his hands behind his back and bending his legs at the hip joints. A contrast solution is slowly introduced into the intestine through a tube. As the bowel fills up, medical staff take targeted and general x-rays.
Next followsthe second stage of the procedure is double contrasting, in which the required amount of air is injected into the intestines, while making another series of images. This technique makes it possible to straighten the folds of the mucous membrane and carefully examine them.
After treatment
It is worth noting that constipation may occur in the first 1-3 days after the procedure. In addition, feces may become discolored or lightened - this is due to the introduction of barium into the intestines. All these phenomena pass by themselves, so there is no need to worry.
Are there any contraindications
Before prescribing such a procedure, the doctor should conduct a thorough examination and take a complete history. After all, there are some contraindications for which irrigoscopy is not performed. This is primarily a serious condition of the patient. For example, the study is not prescribed for people with severe tachycardia, severe heart failure, and some other systemic diseases.
Contraindications also include pregnancy. Irrigoscopy is contraindicated in the presence of perforations in the intestinal wall. Acute inflammatory processes in the intestines (for example, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis) are considered relative contraindications - the procedure can be performed, but with extreme caution, and the decision on the appointment of the study is made by the attending physician.
If a patient cannot have barium enema, the specialist may recommend other diagnostic testing.
Irrigoscopy and possible complications
For todayday this procedure is considered one of the safest. However, there are some complications associated with barium enema. This is primarily the formation of barium granulomas or barium embolism. Complications can also include perforation of the intestinal wall. It is extremely rare that the contrast medium flows into the abdominal cavity during the procedure.
But do not be afraid of complications, since such violations in modern medicine are recorded very rarely. If the procedure was carried out correctly, the patient underwent a preliminary diagnosis and the doctor did not find any contraindications in him, then the likelihood of developing the aforementioned disorders is minimal.
Intestinal irrigoscopy: patient reviews
Of course, in modern gastroenterology, this procedure is used quite often, as it is relatively easy to perform and gives good results. Many patients are recommended irrigoscopy. Reviews of such a study are mostly positive.
First of all, people note the fact that the procedure does not last that long - from 40 to 90 minutes, depending on the size of the study. As for pain, it is absent. It is impossible not to note a certain level of discomfort with which intestinal irrigoscopy is associated. Patient reviews, however, indicate that the inconvenience is more emotional than physical. Some patients report a feeling of bloating, and sometimes mild nausea.
The undoubted advantage is that immediatelyafter the study, the patient receives the results, which can be sent immediately to the attending physician.
