A survey of colonic pathology with a double contrast method and analysis of the indication for a barium enema.

A prospective study of colonic pathology with double contrast method was made of 146 patients sent to the X-ray department of the Black Lion Hospital, Addis Ababa. The barium enemata were done for complaints like constipation, diarrhoea, rectal bleeding and palpable abdominal mass often without any relevant prior physical clinical examinations. Of those examined only 26 (17.8%) patients were found to have radiologically colonic pathology and the rest, 120 (82.2%) patients were reported normal. The policy of prior clinical examination before any barium enema such as rectal digital examination, sigmoidoscopy and stool occult blood studies would reduce the normal barium enema. The survey compared bowel preparation with adequate fluid intake and laxative without cleansing enema serves as a good method of bowel preparation for ambulatory patients.