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| Dr. Kamal Patel image credit: buzzle.com |
Barium enema, also called lower gastrointestinal series, is a medical procedure performed by internists, like Dr. Kamal Patel, to diagnose potential disorders in the colon (large intestine). X-ray pictures are taken while a substance called barium sulfate is inserted into the colon through the rectum.
Barium enema is used to examine the health of the bowel. It could determine the degree of inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Other problems such as diverticulosis (small pouches formed on the colon wall that can become inflamed), intussusception (characterized by one portion of the bowel sliding into the next), and acute appendicitis may also be detected through this procedure.
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| Dr. Kamal Patel image credit: emedicinehealth.com |
In a healthy colon, X-ray pictures show barium uniformly filling the colon and showing normal bowel contour, patency, and position. Dr. Kamal Patel, among other physicians, is able to monitor the flow of barium sulfate through a fluoroscope screen (resembling a television monitor). If the bowel has a certain injury, a water-soluble contrast is used instead of barium.
Because barium enema uses X-ray, strict monitoring and regulation are undertaken to provide the minimum amount of radiation exposure needed to produce the images. Pregnant women and children require greater care as they are more sensitive to the risks of ionizing radiation.
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| Dr. Kamal Patel image credit: lowergiseries.com |
To learn more about Dr. Kamal Patel and the procedures he performs, read updates on this Facebook page.
