Complications of barium enema examinations: a survey of UK Consultant Radiologists 1992 to 1994.
Questionnaires were sent to all Consultant Radiologists in the UK regarding complications from barium enema examinations. The 756 respondents performed a total of 738,216 examinations over the three year period 1992 to 1994. Seventy-seven Consultants (10.2%) reported a total of 82 complications including 13 deaths: an overall mortality rate of 1 in 56,786. Only three of 30 (10%) cases of bowel perforation died, as compared with nine out of 16 (56%) cases of cardiac arrhythmia. The only remaining death was a consequence of vaginal intubation. Details of all the reported complications are recorded. This was an entirely retrospective study.
Blakeborough
A
A
Department of Radiology, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK.
Sheridan
M B
MB
Chapman
A H
AH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology; D001466:Barium Sulfate / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003625:Data Collection; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D004733:Enema / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005119:Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials / Q000453:epidemiology; D005244:Fecal Impaction / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014621:Vagina
D001466:Barium Sulfate