Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Chinese Herbal Retention Enema for the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis
Published on: May 16, 2025
Effectiveness of high-dose barium enema filling for colonic diverticular bleeding
A Fujimoto1, S Sato, H Kurakata
1Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Internal Medicine, Toho University Omori Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan. ai-fujimoto@med.toho-u.ac.jp
Aim:
Therapeutic barium enema was first reported in 1970. The long-term recurrence rate of colonic diverticular bleeding after therapeutic barium enema was compared with that of endoscopic haemostasis.
Method:
This study included 57 consecutive patients admitted between 2003 and 2008 with colonic diverticular bleeding in whom conservative treatment failed to stop bleeding within 3 h of hospital admission. Lower gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed immediately after admission. In 75% of patients, bleeding was from the right colon, and any identifiable source of bleeding was treated by endoscopic haemostasis. Cases with an undetectable source received high-dose barium impaction therapy.
Results:
Treatment was as follows: Group A (n = 37) solely by endoscopic haemostasis; Group B (n = 11) solely by therapeutic barium enema group, and Group C (n = 9) by endoscopic haemostasis and therapeutic barium enema. At a follow up of seven (median; range: 1-56) months, recurrent bleeding rates were 18/37 (48.6%), 6/11 (54.5%) and 2/9 (22.2%) (P = 0.3930).
Conclusion:
High-dose barium enema is as effective as endoscopic haemostasis for the prevention of recurrent diverticular bleeding.
Related Concept Videos
Lower GI Series: Barium Enema
Procedure Details
The examination begins by inserting a lubricated rectal tube into the patient's rectum to administer a radiopaque barium solution. The barium flow is carefully...
Upper GI Series: Barium Swallow
Purpose and Procedure
Patients undergoing this procedure ingest a liquid containing barium sulfate with a chalky...
Esophageal Varices-II: Clinical Features and Management
In the initial assessment, a thorough review of the patient's medical history is vital to identify risk factors such as liver disease, alcohol abuse, or...
Diverticular Disease of the Colon
Endoscopic Procedures II: Colonoscopy
Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...