PERFORATION ASSOCIATED WITH BARIUM ENEMA IN ACUTE APPENDICITIS

A child with the suspected diagnosis of atypical acute appendicitis un derwent a diagnostic barium enema. The study was complicated by perfor ation with leakage of a large amount of barium into the peritoneal cav ity. The complex hospital course that resulted has prompted us to reev aluate the barium enema in the diagnosis of appendicitis and review th e literature for contraindications. We conclude that this particular c omplication is extremely rare and that barium enema still has a part t o play in some patients where the clinical diagnosis is uncertain.