A prospective randomised study comparing enteroclysis with small bowel follow-through examinations in 244 patients

The purpose of this study was to determine whether small bowel enema or bar ium follow-through is the most appropriate examination for the routine inve stigation of patients without documented small bowel disease referred from outpatient sources in our hospital. Two hundred and forty-four patients wer e prospectively randomised to either small bowel enema (SBE) or barium foll ow-through (FT). Radiation doses and room times were recorded for the first 95 patients and abnormal results were documented for all. One hundred and twelve FTs and 75 SBEs were performed. The incidence of abnormal results wa s low overall and comparable in the two groups. There were significantly mo re abnormalities in the FT group which required further investigations for confirmation. Of those assigned to SEE, 19% were converted to FT due to pat ient refusal and technical failure. Radiation doses were similar in the two groups, but the time spent occupying the fluoroscopy room was significantl y shorter for FT. In our department FT is as effective as SEE in detecting small bowel abnormalities de novo. The radiation dose is similar, but more FTs can be performed per list. Follow-through is also less invasive than SE E and therefore we use this technique as the first line of investigation in this group of patients.