Barium enemas in the frail elderly.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this investigation was to determine the frequency of and predictors for inadequate barium enemas in the frail elderly.


METHODS
The medical and radiologic records of 171 elderly institutionalized patients (mean age = 85.3 years), who underwent barium enema examinations, were retrospectively reviewed. The study outcome of primary interest was the radiologist's report of the adequacy of examination as indicated in the written summary of the results of the barium enema procedure.


RESULTS
Eighty-eight (51.5%) of the 171 studies were deemed inadequate, with poor bowel preparation a primary or contributing factor in 89.7% of the inadequate studies. Among a variety of demographic and clinical factors, only long-term laxative and/or cathartic use was associated with an inadequate study (odds ratio = 7.0; 95% confidence interval 2.7 to 18.0).


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrate a very high frequency of inadequate barium enema examinations in the very old and suggest a need for improved methods of bowel preparation in this patient population, especially in those who are long-term users of laxatives and cathartics.
Gurwitz
J H
JH
Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged, Boston, Massachusetts.
Noonan
J P
JP
Sanchez
M
M
Prather
W
W
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000075202:Contraindications; D004733:Enema / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D001466:Barium Sulfate