Perforation with extravasation of barium is a rare complication of contrast enema examination of the large bowel with a high associated mortality rate. The experience of performing a re-laparotomy in a patient previously exposed to barium peritonitis is even less common. We describe an elderly male patient with a Hartmann's procedure performed a year previously, presenting with peritonitis following barium enema evaluation of the proximal colon via an end descending colon stoma. Emergency laparotomy, segmental bowel resection and liberal peritoneal toilet resulted in a satisfactory outcome. The patient had a subsequent successful reversal of his Hartmann's procedure nine months later despite the presence of dense barium induced adhesions. This potentially preventable iatrogenic complication is discussed in this report, which is supplemented by a brief review of the English literature.
Barium Sulfate/administration & dosage ; Barium Sulfate/*adverse effects ; Colon ; Colostomy ; Enema/*adverse effects ; *Iatrogenic Disease ; Peritonitis/*chemically induced

It has been reported that colitis may be associated with intrarectally administered drugs or chemicals. Colonotoxicity may results from conventional medical therapy, herbal or other illicit drugs, contrast materials, and detergents. Clues that a colitis may be due to an intrarectally administered agent include perianal excoriation, segmental distal colitis due to a concentration gradient from enema administration, and recent diagnostic or therapeutic administration of high risk solutions such as hypertonic contrast agents or detergent enemas. Barium is a highly viscous contrast agent that is insoluble in water. Barium enemas are usually very safe. Also, no case report of barium-induced chemical colitis has been reported yet. We report a case of chemical colitis with colonic stricture occurring after the barium enema for diagnostic purpose.
Barium Sulfate/*adverse effects ; Colitis/*chemically induced/pathology ; Contrast Media/*adverse effects ; *Enema ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

In the past several years of 21 century, there are many updates of concepts on the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer, which indicates the era of experience-based medicine has been gradually replaced by that of evidence-based medicine. Despite emerging evidence from randomized controlled trials(RCT) and meta-analyses questioning its use, concurrent suggestion on the indication of preoperative bowel preparation has not been reached. The authors agree with the opinion of The Huang Jia-si Textbook of Surgery(7th Edition). Preoperative bowel preparation should be emphasized before the consensus is confirmed, though there are so many trials showing that bowel preparation before elective colorectal surgery was unnecessary. In the authors' consideration, compared with the Westerner, the Chinese prefer to the food style of low fat and high cellulose, which would make more food residue. So whether the oversea finding of the preoperative bowel preparation is fit for the colorectal patients in China is questioned. Therefore large-sample, multi-centre, prospective RCT is expected to be carried out by the national academic organization, by which high-ranking evidence suitable for the Chinese could be obtained.
Colorectal Surgery ; Elective Surgical Procedures ; Enema ; adverse effects ; methods ; Humans ; Preoperative Care

Hydrogen peroxide is commonly used as a disinfectant that has been reported to cause chemical colitis. We report a case of 49 year-old man who presented with chemical colitis caused by self-inflicted hydrogen peroxide enema. In the sigmoidoscopic examination, diffuse erythematous and edematous mucosal change with multiple ulcerations and easy touch bleeding was noted from the rectum to the proximal sigmoid colon. Abdominal computed tomography showed diffuse wall thickening of the rectum and the sigmoid colon with inflammatory and reactive change at surrounding. The patient was treated with NPO, intravenous fluid, and antibiotic therapy. On 5th hospital day, abdominal pain and bloody stool disappeared, and the patient started oral feeding. He discharged on 6th hospital day with fully recovered state.
Abdominal Pain/etiology ; Colitis/*chemically induced/therapy ; Enema/*adverse effects ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/etiology ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide/*adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sigmoidoscopy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Aged ; Colonoscopy ; Enema/*adverse effects ; Humans ; Intestinal Perforation/*diagnosis/etiology ; Male ; Rectal Diseases/*diagnosis/diagnostic imaging/etiology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Rectal enema used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes infrequently causes colitis. In medical practice, enemas are known to incidentally bring about colitis by mechanical, thermal, or direct chemical injuries. Coffee enema is told to ameliorate the constipation in alternative medicine. We hereby report a case of acute colitis resulting from coffee enema, which was presented with severe abdominal pain and hematochezia.
Acute Disease ; Aged ; Coffee/*adverse effects ; Colitis/chemically induced/*diagnosis/pathology ; Colonoscopy ; *Enema ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Male ; Rectal Diseases/*diagnosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Rectal enema used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes infrequently causes colitis. In medical practice, enemas are known to incidentally bring about colitis by mechanical, thermal, or direct chemical injuries. Coffee enema is told to ameliorate the constipation in alternative medicine. We hereby report a case of acute colitis resulting from coffee enema, which was presented with severe abdominal pain and hematochezia.
Acute Disease ; Aged ; Coffee/*adverse effects ; Colitis/chemically induced/*diagnosis/pathology ; Colonoscopy ; *Enema ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Male ; Rectal Diseases/*diagnosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of retention enema of Chinese herbal medicine combined with allopurinol in treating hyperuricaemia (HUE).

METHODSSeventy-eight patients with HUE were assigned to two: groups, the 40 patients in the treated group were treated with retention enema of Chinese herbal medicine combined with oral intake of allopurinol, and the 38 patients in the control group were treated with allopurinol alone. The therapeutic course for all was 6 weeks. The clinical efficacy, changes of symptoms, blood levels of uric acid and lipids, renal function, and 24 h urinary micro-albumin were observed.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was: 92.5% in the treated group, which was significantly higher than that in the control group (68.4%, P<0.05). After treatment, the score of symptoms in the treated group decreased from 9.43+/-1.15 scores to 3.25+/-0.85 scores, significantly lower than that in the control group (9.75+/-1.43 scores vs 9.25+/-0.82 scores, P<0.01). Moreover, the post-treatment improvements in blood uric acid, blood lipids, renal function and 24h urinary micro-albumin in the treated group were all better than those in the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONRetention enema with: Chinese herbal medicine combined with allopurinol could obviously reduce the uric acid level in blood, improve patients' renal function and lipid metabolism, and alleviate the clinical symptoms in patients with HUE.

Adult ; Aged ; Allopurinol ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Enema ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperuricemia ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Uric Acid ; blood

INTRODUCTIONFew reports have documented allergic hypersensitivity reactions after barium gastrointestinal studies. Of these, the barium suspension, its additives or intravenous glucagon given for bowel relaxation has been implicated as possible allergens. We report a patient with delayed hypersensitivity reaction after barium enema and discuss the reasons supporting glucagon as the possible allergen.

CLINICAL PICTUREA 74-year-old Chinese woman presented with pruritic rashes, 1 day after a barium enema. Intravenous glucagon (GlucaGen, Novo Nordisk, Denmark) was administered during the barium enema. Physical examination revealed palpable purpuric rashes on the legs with erythematous papules and plaques on the arms and trunk. Skin biopsy demonstrated superficial perivascular infiltrates of lymphocytes and eosinophils, consistent with a drug eruption.

TREATMENT AND OUTCOMEThe rashes resolved with antihistamines and topical corticosteroids.

CONCLUSIONThis report highlights the potential of glucagon to cause hypersensitivity reactions. Awareness of this entity is important for the prevention and recognition of complications during barium gastrointestinal studies.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; therapeutic use ; Aged ; Barium Compounds ; Drug Hypersensitivity ; etiology ; Enema ; Female ; Glucagon ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Histamine H1 Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity, Delayed ; etiology ; Injections, Intravenous ; Parasympatholytics ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy of retention enema with Huchang Jiedu Decoction (, HJD) in treating chronic severe hepatitis B (CSHB).

METHODSSixty patients of CSHB were equally randomized into the treated group and the control group. Both groups were treated with conventional integrative medicine, but to patients in the treated group, retention enema with HJD was given in addition, once every day for 3 weeks. The dominant symptoms, physical signs, and related biochemical indices, as well as the incidence of complications in patients before and after treatment, were observed.

RESULTSGood therapeutic effects were shown in the treated group, with a total effective rate better than that in the control group (83.3% versus 60.0%, P<0.05), superior in terms of lowering alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBil), globulin (Glb), and endotoxin (ET) levels and increasing prothrombin activity (PTA), total cholesterol (TC), and calcium (Ca) levels, as well as eliminating ascites and preventing hepatic encephalopathy (P<0.05); especially in treating middle/early stage patients with Chinese medicine syndrome differentiated as water-toxin accumulation pattern.

CONCLUSIONRetention enema with HJD is surely effective in treating CSHB, and its primary mechanism may be related to the mitigation of enterogenous endotoxemia.

Adult ; Aged ; Ascites ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Endotoxins ; blood ; Enema ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Treatment Outcome