Gastrointestinal Radiology > Procedures > Barium Enema > Single Contrast > Single Contrast (8)


Single Contrast Barium Enema (cont.)

Conduct of the Examination (cont.)
  1. Move the fluoroscope to the region of the splenic flexure.
    • If the patient is still in the RPO position, this flexure may already be optimally demonstrated.
    • If not, the patient should be placed in the best position to "open up" the splenic flexure for a spot image.
    • It may or may not be necessary to instill more barium to distend the colon before spotting this flexure. (Because the splenic flexure is ordinarily deep to the ribs compression with the paddle or F-Spoon is ill-advised.)  

    BE RPO patient positionBE Splenic Flexure spot

    • Rotate the patient away from you into a LPO position to optimally "open up" the hepatic flexure.
      • Take a spot image of the hepatic flexure. (Because the hepatic flexure is ordinarily deep to the ribs compression with the paddle or F-Spoon is ill-advised.)
      • It may or may not be necessary to instill more barium to distend the colon before spotting this flexure. 

      BE LPO patient positionBE Hepatic Flexure spot

    • Quickly, pan the entire colon with the fluoroscope while gently palpating the colon with the compression paddle or F-Spoon.
      • Take a graded-compression spot image of any lesion identified.