Should an 82 year old male with 20% kidney function be subjected to a barium enema?

Question:

My father who is 82 and has kidney disease is scheduled to undergo a barium enema early on Monday morning. He cannot have a colonoscopy because of some heart medication he is taking so in place of that test, his doctor is having him have a barium enema. Both my sister and I are very concerned about him going through the prep as well as the test because we have heard that this test is painful since no sedative is given and afterward patients usually feel very weak and drained. At 82 years old is this really necessary? I don't believe he is having any bowel problems at all, although he has been treated for bladder cancer but is fine now. Can someone, maybe someone in the health field, give us some advice before he starts his prep?

Answers:
I would also be concerned regarding your father. Barium Enemas are not easy to do. They require bowel preparation which is sometimes relatively harsh to cleanse the bowel. Also, one should ask, "Why does he need a Barium Enema?" If there is no good reason for the test, then don't do it. That would be my advice in someone who is already compromised with Renal Disease and is elderly. Barium Enemas have been associated with fatalities. So, if there is no pressing reason for the exam....don't do it tomorrow; Get a second opinion if necessary to see if the test is warranted. Testing for testing's sake is ridiculous in an 82 year old man with compromised Kidneys.

Other Answers:
He should be okay! If you are worried about it take him to another doctor and get a second opinion regarding the necessity of the test! I hope everything works out for you all!

Jan is that you? Its me Dana. Hey sorry to hear about your dad's health!

NOOOO!! It makes you **** bricks-- barium hardens. Get a second opinion. That poor old guy never did anything that bad I am sure. And if he did he still probably doesn't deserve a barium enema. Can't they do a scan of some sort with radioactive dye like they do for lungs?? Man that doc is MEAN!

The company that makes barium enema equipment and devices is Ezem corp. You can look on their website to find instructions for use - the labels that come with every medical product. These are very detailed and will show contraindications - such as kidney problems or age.

Without knowing more, it's hard to give advice. However, barium enemas are a well established practice with few side effects that I know about. You can check the Ez-em website to learn more.

Unless he is dying in the next few hours I don't see any connection between the kidney failure and the enema. I imagine that the doctors have an idea that he is having some bowel problems and that is their reasoning for the barium. Try talking to the doc that ordered the procedure, express your concerns and LISTEN to thier explanation of the situation the way they see it. If your sister and yourself seriously think he should not undergo any further procedures then you should request hospice to provide in home services for him and take him home. Otherwise there isn't any reason to expect him to suffer from a blocked colon or colon cancer simply to avoid an enema. Best wishes

My sister-n-law who is a nurse says that he should just go ahead and go along with the peocedure, and if he has had bladder cancer that there is a higher percentage that he could have it in his colon. The reason he will fell drained is because it will clean him out, and as long as he stays hydrated that he will be just fine.

There's not enough info here. Why is he getting it done? That is the only thing to determine necessity. They are very uncomfortable, people often feel sick after and there is a lot of fluid loss but I don't think he is in too serious of danger. Still I would not do it unless it were truly needed. If they are just looking around for stuff, running one more test then no. At his age he should be thinking about how much medical care he wants and for what. If this scares you surely you don't want him to undergo something much worse like surgery or chemo. How does he feel about this stuff? If they found something would he even want it treated? Maybe he would rather skip these tests and just enjoy his life and not worry about these things anymore.

A barium enema is used to get a diagnostic image of the intestine (small or large) to see if there are any growth (cancer) or polyps. It should not interfer with your dad's kidney disease. Since he had bladder cancer before, this procedure can assess any recurrent cancer in the pelvic or abdominal area. Best wishes of recovery and God bless!

Have you talked with your father's doctor, and expressed the same concerns you have written here? If this is just a routine test, it probably isn't necessary in view of your father's condition. But if the doctor suspects a malignancy in the colon, the test could detect a problem and it could be corrected before it gets much worse. The fact that he has had cancer in the bladder, probably makes doctors suspect that it could be lurking elsewhere. How does your father feel about this test? There are many factors to be considered. My suggestion would be to have a heart-to-heart with your dad's doctor. If he or she has a legitimate reason for the test, it may indirectly add a few more years to dad's life. If, on the other hand, it is merely routine, maybe it could be eliminated without presenting any threat to your dad's future well being. If the doctor insists without good reason, I'd get a second opinion, perhaps with a geriatric specialist -- a doctor who specializes in elderly patients.

You're a wonderful daughter to be concerned. Your dad is lucky to have you as his advocate. Good luck!

I'm not a doctor or anyone else from the medical field so don't take what I say as gospel, but. . . .

I don't understand why he cannot have a colonoscopy. The preparation for a colonoscopy and a barium enema is the same. After the preparation, between the two, the barium enema is harder on the system than a colonoscopy.

We know what an enema is, the colonoscopy involves running a scope through the rectum and into the intestines to take a look with a camera for polyps and other problems inside the intestines.

I would think that the preparation would be the problem with someone with 20% kidney function because it involves drinking a liquid that has salts in it to clean out the intestines and you have to drink a lot of liquids to stay hydrated and if the kidneys are not functioning properly than this could be a problem. That problem would exist with either procedure.

Double check with your doctor as to why this procedure over the other. I would also get a second opinion, I'm sure there is a better way for someone with kidney problems.

Good luck.

More Questions and Answers

The consumer health information on youqa.com is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions.
The answer content post by the user, if contains the copyright content please contact us, we will immediately remove it.

Should an 82 year old male with 20% kidney function be subjected to a barium enema?

Health Resources