title: Prospective evaluation of hospitalized patients with nonactive lower intestinal bleeding--timing and role of barium enema and colonoscopy.
abstract: A prospective evaluation of 176 hospitalized patients with nonactive lower intestinal bleeding demonstrated that a barium enema is not a necessary prerequisite for a sensitive and safe total colonoscopic examination. Colonoscopy was better in detecting colonic polyps and colon cancers than barium enema. It was concluded that colonoscopy without prior barium enema provides a sensitive diagnostic approach to hospitalized patients with nonactive lower intestinal bleeding. This approach does not interfere with the early use of angiography and may shorten hospitalization.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003113:Colonoscopy; D004733:Enema; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001466:Barium Sulfate