Why Does My Child Need a Water Soluble Enema?

Whether it’s a healthy dinner or an enjoyable snack, the food your child eats is essential to their wellbeing. In order for their body to properly use and dispose of that food, their colon needs to be healthy and work effectively.

Some illnesses and abnormalities in the colon can cause pain, constipation or blood in their stool — all signs that there may be something wrong in their colon, which is part of the digestive system. In order to diagnose and treat this, your child’s physician may do a test called a water soluble enema, which is an X-ray that takes pictures of their colon.

This test, while it may be uncomfortable for a short amount of time, will provide your child’s physician with important information that may help them avoid more invasive procedures or surgeries.

What Happens During a Water Soluble Enema?

It can be helpful and ease your child’s anxiety if they know what is going to happen during their procedure. The following steps will occur during your child’s water soluble enema:

1. A Child Life specialist will meet with you and your child to help explain the procedure so they can understand it, show you pictures of the room the procedure will occur in and help your child develop a positive coping plan.

2. A radiology tech will be in the room (called a fluoro room) during the test. Two adults will be allowed to accompany your child to the exam room for preparation. However, only one caregiver may remain with your child during the X-ray, while the other caregiver steps behind the lead glass window. If you’re pregnant, you will be unable to stay in the room during the X-ray, but you are welcome to remain with your child during the tube placement. If you’re planning on bringing other children with you, one adult will need to stay in the waiting area with them.

3. Once your child is in the fluoro room, they will need to change out of all of their clothes and into a hospital gown. After they have changed, you can help your child up onto the table to lie down, where they will lie on their side.

4. The radiology tech will place the tube into your child’s anus. Your child may feel pressure and an uncomfortable feeling when the tube is being placed. Deep breathing can help reduce this sensation. It may also be helpful to distract your child with an iPad, songs or books.

5. The tech will use tape to keep the tube in the correct spot for pictures.

6. The tube is used to fill the rectum and colon with contrast, which is a liquid that enables your child’s physician to see the structure of the digestive system on the X-ray images.

7. While your child’s colon is filling with contrast, the radiologist will take pictures of your child on their back, stomach and both sides using a special X-ray called a fluoroscope camera. Your child will feel full when the contrast enters their colon. When their colon is full of contrast, the tech will take off the tape using lotion and take out the tube.

8. Your child will need to empty his or her colon in their diaper or by using the restroom. The tech will take another picture after your child has emptied their colon.