Case report: colonic obstruction following small bowel barium study

A case is described in which inspissated barium was retained in the colon for 16 months before causing large bowel obstruction. To our knowledge this is the first case described in which the time interval between barium ingestion and the onset of symptoms was more than a few weeks. Scybalum formation is due to resorption of water from the barium sulphate, which although less common with modern preparations, still appears to be possible in certain high-risk patients. Prolonged retention of barium should be avoided by increased awareness of the problem, encouraging patients to eat and drink normally after the examination, encouraging mobility and administration of lactulose in high risk patients.