Degree of Mucosal Coating on Double Contrast Barium Enema: Comparison of Distilled Water and Normal Saline as a Suspension

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the degree of mucosal coating on double contrast barium enema (DCBE) using barium suspension made with distilled water or normal saline. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between June 1 and July 30, 1996, fifty-four patients prospectively underwent DCBE using 83% w/v(weight-to-volme) of barium suspension (room temperature, 24 degrees), which was made with 1,200 mL of distilled water (Group 1 ; 29 cases) and normal saline (Group 2 ; 25 cases) per 1 Kg of Solotopr (Taejoon Pharmacy, Seoul, Korea). Bowel preparation and examination methods were the same in both groups, and four projections (erect view, supine view, both decubitus views) were taken. The mucosal coating was graded as excellent, good, ordinary, or poor by three radiologists working independently, and scored from 3 to 0. Significance was analyzed by t-test. RESULTS: Mean grading scores 2.33+/-0.70 in group 1 and1.56+/-0.99 in group 2 (P < 0.003). CONCLUSION: When barium suspension made with distilled water was used, the degree of mucosal coating on DCBE was better than when the suspension was made with normal saline.