RADIOLOGICAL PATHWAY
CLINICAL LEAD:
Connell Garvey
RADIOGRAPHERS & CONTACTS FOR BARIUM ENEMA:
Lynn Abraham
Geoff Fitzgerald
BOOKING CLERK:
Irene Furmage Tel: 706 2759
Fax: 706 5633
Patient preparation required:
BARIUM ENEMA → 3 sachets of Picolax required.
CT COLONOGRAPHY → 3 sachets of Picolax required.
CT ACE (Abdo Colon Enhancement) → No bowel preparation required.
Oral Gastrografin to be taken 48 hours prior to test.
For patients who have incomplete colonoscopy, Barium Enema is required for
procedural completion.
The request form is to be completed by the accredited colonoscopist at the
end of the incomplete colonoscopy. The request details need to be explicit,
and it should be highlighted on the request form that the patient is on the
bowel cancer screening programme.
The request form should then be taken to the Full Booking desk in the main xray department, with both the Screening Practitioner and patient in
attendance.
The request will be triaged by Lynn Abraham or Geoff Fitzgerald.
The patient will be given the Picolax sachets with directions of how to take in
preparation for the Barium Enema.
The Barium Enema will be arranged for 1 week later but can be extended to 2
weeks at the request of the patient.
For patients who are deemed medically unsuitable for colonoscopy, CT
Colonography is an option but not the first choice alternative for the screening
programme.
CT Colonography requires the patient to receive bowel preparation with
Picolax, and the patient must be relatively mobile as they are required to lie in
a supine position.
The patient must also have had a medical assessment of their anal sphincter,
which must be deemed competent for the procedure. Reliability of this
procedure depends upon adequate colonic distension.
A realistic waiting time for this procedure is at least 2 weeks.
1
The CT ACE is the chosen pathway for patients who are deemed unsuitable
for colonoscopy. The accredited colonoscopist who was part of the decision
making process should sign the request form.
The Screening Practitioner will fax a detailed referral signed by the accredited
colonoscopist and the screening administrator will obtain the appointment
details.
The patient is NOT required to take bowel preparation, but will be required to
take oral Gastrografin commencing 48 hours pre procedure.
The Gastrografin will be posted by the x ray department to the patient along
with administration instructions and appointment details.
A Screening Practitioner will be present at the CT ACE scan in the same way
as they would at colonoscopy.
A realistic waiting time for this procedure is 1 week.
2