Complications of barium studies

ABSTRACT

The objectives of our study were to know the frequency and type of complications of Barium contrast study. Material and This study was conducted in surgical unit of Postgraduate Medical Institute Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar. It was a descriptive study including all those patients who had some form of barium contrast studies for gastrointestinal diseases from January 2001 to December 2003. Total number of patients was 290. Patients who developed complications were only 13 [4.17%]. Referral from other centre was 75% among the complicated cases. Different types of complications noted in this study were intestinal obstruction 1.05% [n=3], failure of ileastomy/colostomy closure 2.42% [n=8], and perforation of hollow viscera 0.69% [n=2]. Overall mortality rate was 0.69% [n=2]. Frequency rate of complications in our study is higher than international studies. Complications rate can be reduced by following a standard approach to deal with acute/chronic abdomen. Barium study should be avoided in cases where there are signs of eminent intestinal obstruction or perforation