A Case of Intestinal Obstruction Caused by Barium Retention after Small Bowel Radiography with Barium Meal

Introduction: It’s a rare report about intestinal obstruction caused by barium retention after small bowel radiography of oral barium. An 83-year-old woman was admitted for bile duct cancer with metal stent and incomplete intestinal obstruction .The patient ever did upper gastrointestinal barium meal examination which showed the mucosa of descending part of duodenum was unclear and contrast medium had slow excretion before this hospitalization. There’s no obvious abnormalities by small bowel enterography. Results: After one month, abdominal stand X-ray showed intestinal cavity of left upper abdomen was full of pneumatosis and bowel dilatation, much high density shadow considered residual barium in the middle and lower abdomen. Discussion: It’s a rare report about intestinal obstruction caused by barium retention after small bowel radiography of oral barium. This case present a patient with bile duct cancer and metal bracket. The risk factors include advanced age, advanced bile duct cancer, bowel dysfunction, long term in bed, electrolyte disorder and octreotide reduce digestive fluid for intestinal obstruction need to be considered. Conclusion: It’s the rare and first report. Considering the high morbidity of barium retention to intestinal obstruction, efforts should be made to reduce this complication.