Complications from radiographer-performed double contrast barium enemas.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the types and rates of complications encountered by radiographers when performing double contrast barium enemas (DCBE).


METHODS
Seven hundred and forty-one questionnaires were posted to radiographers who had in the last 5 years attended one of the biannual barium enema training courses.


RESULTS
Of 741 questionnaires posted 407 (54.9%) were returned completed. Approximately 348,000 barium enema examinations had been performed. Fifty-nine radiographers reported 89 complications, including 13 intra-peritoneal and 11 extra-peritoneal perforations. There were five deaths (mortality 1 in 70,000). Deaths resulted from two of 24 (10%) perforations, two of 45 (5%) cardiac events and one cerebrovascular accident that occurred during an examination.


CONCLUSIONS
Radiographers have been regularly performing DCBEs for almost a decade. The mortality for radiographer-performed DCBE is similar to that previously reported for radiologists, although a slightly higher rate of perforation is noted and so this is an area where radiographer training should be targeted.
Vora
P
P
Department of Clinical Radiology, St James' University Hospital, Leeds, UK.
Chapman
A
A
D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology; D001466:Barium Sulfate / Q000009:adverse effects; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000009:adverse effects; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology; D004733:Enema / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000209:etiology; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000293:injuries; D012007:Rectum / Q000293:injuries; D012421:Rupture; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D003287:Contrast Media; D001466:Barium Sulfate