This is a case report of a patient who presented to the hospital's ambulatory radiology suites for a barium enema to evaluate guaiac-positive stools. The patient, after receiving glucagon 0.5 mg iv and a small amount of rectally administered barium sulfate, experienced an “itchy tingling” feeling, vomited, became diaphoretic, and had a cardiopulmonary arrest. Despite a prompt response by the cardiac arrest team, the patient could not be resuscitated. This case demonstrates the potential for serious reactions during this procedure.
HarnedRKStellingCBWilliamsSWolfGL.Glucagon and barium enema examinations: a controlled clinical trial.AJR1976; 126: 981–4.
2.
FeistJHUngerRH.Action of glucagon as adjunct to gastroin-testinal X-ray film examinations. Questions and answers (let-ter).JAMA1975; 231: 80.
3.
GelfandDWSowersJCDeponteKASumnesTEOttDJ.Anaphylactic and allergic reactions during double-contrast studies: is glucagon or barium suspension the allergen?AJR1984; 144: 405–6.
4.
SchwartzEEGlickSNFoggsMBSilversteinGS.Hypersensitivity reactions after barium enema examination.AJR1984; 143: 103–4.
5.
JavorsBRApplbaumYGerardP.Severe allergic reaction: an unusual complication of barium enema.Gastrointest Radiol1984; 9: 357–8.
6.
BarrDP.Hazards of modern diagnosis and therapy—the price we pay.JAMA1956; 159: 1452–6.
7.
SteelKGertmanPMCrescenziBSAndersonJ.Iatrogenic illness on a general medical service at a university hospital.N Engl J Med1981; 304: 638–42.
