What are the indications for a single contrast barium enema examination?
A single-contrast barium enema examination may be performed in patients with suspected fistula, high-grade colonic obstruction, or Hirschsprung’s disease. If a distal small bowel obstruction is suspected, a single-contrast barium enema examination with reflux of barium into the distal ileum to the point of obstruction may be performed as a complementary study to CT.