Colostomy Barium Enema

What is Colostomy?

Colostomy is the surgical procedure and formation of an artificial or surgical connection between to two portion of the large intestine.
If a colon has disease, tumor, or inflammatory processes, a section of a large intestine may have been removed or altered. In most common cases, tumors located in the sigmoid colon, or rectum this part will remove. The terminal end of intestine then is brought to the anterior surface of the abdomen, where an artificial opening is created. The artificial opening of the abdomen is termed a stoma.

Barium Enema with Colostomy Bag

In some cases, a temporary colostomy is performed to allow healing of the involved section of large intestine. The involved region is bypassed through the use of colostomy. Once the healing are complete, the two sections of the large intestine are reconnected.
Fecal matter then is discharge from the body via the stoma into the appliance bag that is attached to the skin over the stoma.
Once is healing is complete, an anastomosis (reconnection ) of the two sections of the large intestine is performed surgically. For select patients, the colostomy is permanent because of the amount of large intestine removed or other factors.

Purpose of Colostomy

The purpose of colostomy barium enema is to assess for proper healing, obstruction or leakage or to perform a presurgical evaluation. Sometimes, in addition to the colostomy barium enema, another enema may be given rectally at the same time. This type of study evaluates the terminal large intestine before it is reconnected surgically.

Post Evac Colostomy

Colostomy Patient Preparation:

If the barium enema is used for nonacute reasons, the patient is asked to irrigate the ostomy before under going the procedure. The patient may be asked to bring an irrigation device and additional appliance bags. The patient should follow the same dietary restriction as are required for the standard barium enema.

Procedure on Colostomy:

Barium sulfate remain the contrast media of choice. A single or double-contrast media procedure may be performed as with any routine barium enema. Iodinated, water-soluble contrast media may be used if indicated. The colostomy barium enema requires that the contrast media take a different route through the stoma. As a result of bowel resection, anatomic structures and landmarks often are altered. The radiologic technologist must observe the anatomy during fluoroscopy to plan for alterations in the positioning routine. Before the resected bowel is reattached (thus eliminating the need for the colostomy), barium may be delivered though both the stoma and the rectum during the procedure to ensure that healing is complete. Finally, the radiologic technologist should have a clean appliance bag available for the postevacuation phase of the study. Some patients are unable to use the restroom.